Benjani queries Mapeza snub against Liberia


THE Warriors captain for the last four years, Benjani Mwaruwari is “surprised” with his axing from the Zimbabwe squad and does not buy the idea that he was excluded because he is clubless.

Mwaruwari was axed from the 36-member squad that is set to go into camp for the 2012 Africa Nations Cup campaign tomorrow. Zimbabwe will open the Nations Cup campaign with an away fixture against Liberia on September 4 in Monrovia.

Speaking from his United Kingdom base on Friday, Mwaruwari said he was “surprised” with the Warriors caretaker coach Norman Mapeza’s decision.

“I am surprised with my exclusion. If I am not mistaken, all South African based players who have been called have not been playing because their league had not yet commenced, so who has been playing?”

“There are a number of players that have been called for national duty who have not been playing because their leagues have not started.

“Like I said I have to respect his decision as the head coach,” Mwaruwari said.

Mapeza has included in the provisional squad South Africa-based players, Method Mwanjali and Lionel Mtizwa, who are yet to see action at Mamelodi Sundowns and were not part of the cast when they played in the MTN8 quarter-finals on Friday night. Ajax Cape Town winger Tafadzwa Rusike is yet to play at the Urban Warriors.

Mwaruwari said Mapeza did not have the courtesy to inform him on his exclusion despite being the Warriors captain. He said he only read about the story on the internet. He said Mapeza never bothered to find out his current form.

“To begin with neither (Norman) Mapeza nor any Zifa officials phoned me to find out on my recent form or career prospects.

“I last met Mapeza two months ago in South Africa, from that time onwards, we never communicated. I have nothing personal with Mapeza, which means that I have to respect his decision to drop me from the squad.

“Mapeza is the caretaker coach as of now; I know how it is to be appointed a caretaker coach. You will be trying to prove yourself; hence you always go for people who you think will do duty for you diligently.”

Asked why he had decided to drop Mwaruwari from the squad, Mapeza said that since the Warriors’ captain was still club hunting, it was not proper to call someone who has not been playing competitive football.

But Mwaruwari said that he has been training with Blackburn Rovers who are on the verge of signing him.

“As I speak I am training with Blackburn Rovers but I have three teams that are after my signature.

“I am still weighing to see which club to join. So by Monday (tomorrow) I will be in position to tell which club I’m joining? As for my fitness, I am very much fit for the game.” Mwaruwari said.

Mapeza dropped five regular players from the 36-member squad that was announced last week

Apart from Mwaruwari, vice captain Esrom Nyandoro, Tinashe Nengomasha, Tapuwa Kapini and Edmore Sibanda were also dropped.

A number of players that have been called up have not been playing competitive football while some of them have failed to command first team positions at their respective clubs.
Meanwhile in another development Sam Allardyce has admitted he would be interested in signing striker Mwaruwari provided there are no problems over his fitness.

The 32-year-old has been on trial with Rovers and Allardyce wants him to prove that he has fully recovered from a knee problem suffered while at Portsmouth.

“What we need to find out is if the knee can stand up to the medical,” Allardyce told BBC Radio Lancashire.

“We know what he can do on the field of play which is reassuring.”

The Zimbabwe international, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Sunderland before being released by parent club Manchester City earlier this summer, began his career with Jomo Cosmos in 1999.

After spending three seasons with the South African side, the 32-year-old moved to Auxerre before joining Portsmouth for £4,1m in January 2006.

The Bulawayo-born forward made over 70 appearances for Pompey before completing a move to Manchester City two years later.

His move to Eastlands almost fell through after City tried to pull out of the deal, expressing concern about a knee injury Mwaruwari had surgery on 18 months previously.

Zimbabwe provisional squad:

Goalkeepers: W Arubi (Dynamos), T Dube (Gunners), M Nyamupanedengu (Kiglon),
Defenders: G Zhokinyu (Dynamos), D Vheremu (Gunners), G Banda (Highlanders), G Mapemba (CAPS United), Z Ngodzo (Highlanders), N Mukumbi (CAPS United), Q Amini (Gunners), J Kapenya (Hwange)

Midfielders: A Rambanepasi (Dynamos), W Katsande (Gunners), E Mudzingwa (Highlanders), B Marere (Dynamos), R Mteki (Black Mambas), B Ncube (Motor Action), A Sadiki (Gunners), A Gahadzikwa (Motor Action)
Strikers: N Maroto (Gunners), E Gwekwerere (Dynamos), C Sibanda (Motor Action),

Foreign Contingent : M Mwanjali (Mamelodi Sundowns), T Sweswe (Kaizer Chiefs), N Kaseke (AC Amona), O Bhasera (Plymouth Arglye), C Nhamoinesu (Zaglebie Lubin- Poland), J Majabvi (Lask Linz, Austria), L Mtizwa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Q Antipas (Sonderjysk E- Denmark), C Matawu (Polonia Bytom- Poland), K Musona (Kaizer Chiefs), E Sadomba (Al-Hilal-Sudan), T Rusike (Ajax Cape Town-SA), N Mushekwi (Mamelodi Sundowns), C Malajila (Club African)