By Tafadzwa Chigandiwa
Warriors coach, Zdravko Logarusic has changed his team’s starting 11 that will face Chipolopolo of Zambia in the battle of Zambezi match tonight at National Sports Stadium in an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier that has been dubbed as a dead rubber.
This follows after Zimbabwe edged Botswana 1-0 last week Thursday, to secure a spot at the upcoming AFCON tournament come January 2022.
Only three players, Tafadzwa Rusike, Onismor Bhasera and Ovidy Karuru retained their jersey’s in the starting line-up.
Regular players that beat Botswana in Francistown will be rested in tonight’s match against coach Micho’s troops.
Captain Knowledge Musona, Teenage Hadebe, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Talbert Shumba, Jimmy Dzingai and the hero in last week’s match, Perfect Chikwende whose solitary strike helped the Warriors qualify for the next AFCON finals have been rested.
Meanwhile, Spain based goalkeeper Martin Mapisa who has made positive headlines in the Spanish media of late, will replace Shumba to see himself playing his first ever senior national team game.
Addressing the media at Holiday Inn in Harare, Sunday, coach Loga said he will provide game time to players who have not played, for them to showcase their quality at national level.
He also said he will bench all players who already have yellow cards to avoid their suspension at the first match of the tournament in Cameroon.
“We also have to protect players carrying yellow cards from being suspended for the first game at the AFCON finals,” he added.
Here is the 55-year-old’s starting 11 which will play Zambia at 9pm today (Monday):
Martin Mapisa, Takudzwa Chimwemwe, Victor Kamhuka, Alec Mudimu, Onismor Bhasera, Tafadzwa Rusike, Butho Ncube, Ovidy Karuru, Romario Matova, Last Jesi, Evans Rusike.
