HAS ARUBI PLAYED HIS LAST WARRIORS’ GAME?

WARRIORS coach Marian “Mario” Marinica has left out goalkeeper Washington Arubi from his squad for the Four Nations tournament in Botswana. The Marumo Gallants goalkeeper has been a regular presence in recent nationalteam squads but Mario has opted for a younger group as he begins building towards Zimbabwe’s next AFCON qualifying campaign. Ipswich Town Under-21 defender Corbin Mthunzi and Haverfordwest midfielder Panashe Makwiramiti have both received their first senior national team call ups after impressing in Europe.

Their inclusion follows Mario’s recent tour of Europe where he met several Zimbabwean players, their club coaches and, in some cases family members, while assessing talent across the diaspora. Zimbabwe will compete in the Four Nations tournament in Francistown from March 23 to 31, where they face hosts Botswana, Zambia and Malawi at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium. The tournament offers the Warriors a rare window to test combinations and introduce emerging talent while maintaining the experienced core around captain Marvelous Nakamba.

Defenders Teenage Hadebe and Gerald Takwara retain their places, while Scotland-based forward Tawanda Maswanhise has also been rewarded after strong club form. Italy-based Jordan Zemura and promising midfielder Tawanda Chirewa miss out through injury concerns. Goalkeeping duties will be shared between Elvis Chipezeze of Magesi FC, Brentford youngster Marley Tavaziva and ZPC Kariba goalkeeper Future Sibanda, who receives his first senior national team call up.

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Sarajevo defender Shane Maroodza also returns after previously earning a call up under Jairos Tapera in 2024. “I am very excited to have met the players that I met,” he said. “There was positivity and I was impressed with how they are doing at their clubs.

I had meetings with them, their coaches and also some of their parents. “We want to build a good and competitive national team and the foundations are good.” Elvis Chipezeze (Magesi FC), Future Sibanda (ZPC Kariba), Marley Tavaziva (Brentford)

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