Last throw of the dice for Warriors

WARRIORS skipper Benjani Mwaruwari has missed his own October 2 deadline to return to action and has been ruled out of Saturday’s World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Namibia in Windhoek.

An 18-man squad left for Windhoek on Thursday.

Mwaruwari has missed the start of the English Premiership for Manchester City and his absence deals a cruel blow to Brazilian coach Valinhos who is looking at one last great leap in the campaign after last month’s 0-0 draw against Guinea at home.

The Warriors are third and should group leaders Kenya beat Guinea and Zimbabwe beat Namibia, the Warriors might be still in with a chance.

Benjani’s absence and that of defender Noel Kaseke and midfielder Justice Majabvi through injuries was confirmed by manager Sharrif Mussa.

Gilbert Mushangazhike of Orlando Pirates, Quincy Antipas who plays in Denmark and Cuthberth Malajila are the remaining strikers in the team as Dynamos striker Edward Sadomba has reportedly gone AWOL.

Method Mwanjali is back in the team with Pride Tafirenyika, goalkeeper Willard Manyatera and Ovid Karuru are also in the squad together with regular David Kutyauripo of CAPS United, among other local-based stars.

The rest of the team is unchanged -- Obert Moyo, Onisimo Bhasera, James Matola, Zvenyika Makonese, Esrom Nyandoro, Joel Luphahla, Tapuwa Kapini, Energy Murambadoro, Tinashe Nengomasha.

The Warriors need to win the match against Namibia and hope that Kenya beat Guinea and they will then enter FIFA’s complex mathematics of qualifying for the next round, where eight best losers will join the 12 group winners.

The 12 teams ranked first automatically qualify for the third round. For the eight teams ranked second, the following system will be adopted to rank fairly teams ranked second in the current groups of four or three teams: For teams in groups of four, a new classification will be made for teams ranked second. Only their results with teams ranked first and third in their respective groups (home and away) would be taken into account. Results of matches with the team ranked fourth will not be taken into consideration.

For teams ranked second in groups of three, all their matches will be taken into account.

The teams will then be put on a table and classed based on the number of points, the goal difference then the highest number of goals scored.

The eight best losers based on this classification will be added to the 12 group winners, and the teams would be through to the nest round of qualification.

If teams ranked eighth and ninth are equal on all those measures, a playoff match will be organised next month.

The 20 countries that qualified for the third round will be drawn in five groups of four teams and the first three teams in each group will qualify for the final tournament of the 2010 CAN along the organising country (Angola).

For the group of Angola, in case Angola qualifies for the 3rd round, the other three teams in its group will qualify automatically for the CAN 2010. The ranking of
this group will be done to determine which team will qualify for the World Cup.

For the group of South Africa, in case South Africa qualifies for the 3rd round, there will be two separate rankings. The other three teams will be ranked within the group in order to determine which team will qualify for the World Cup (this ranking will not take into account the results of these teams with South Africa).

Another second ranking will be carried out with the four teams taking into account all the group's results to determine the three teams that will qualify for CAN 2010. South Africa must be at least amongst the top three to qualify for the Nations Cup.

Squad:
Goalkeepers: Tapuwa Kapini (Platinum Stars, SA), Energy Murambadoro (Bidvest Wits, SA)

Defenders: David Kutyauripo (CAPS United, Zim), Onismor Bhasera (Kaizer Chiefs, SA), Zhaimu Jambo (Gunners, Zim), Zvenyika Makonese (Santos, SA), James Matola (Free State Stars, SA), Obert Moyo Pretoria University, SA), Method Mwanjali (CAPS United, Zim)

Midfielders: Esrom Nyandoro (Mamelodi Sundowns, SA), Tinashe Nengomasha (Kaizer Chiefs, SA), Joel Luphahla (Platinum Stars, SA), Ovidy Karuru (Gunners, Zim), Pride Tafirenyika (Shooting Stars, Zim), C Matawu (Motor Action, Zim)

Strikers: Cuthberth Malajila (Highlanders, Zim), Gilbert Mushangazhike (Orlando Pirates, SA), Quincy Antipas (Blokhus FC, Denmark)

Group 2 Log:

	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
1	Kenya	5	3	1	1	6	2	10
2	Guinea	5	2	2	1	6	3	8
3	Zimbabwe	5	1	3	1	2	2	6
4	Namibia	5	1	0	4	3	10

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Chawaguta confident of cricketers

The Zimbabwean cricket team will face Sri Lanka, in a one day international series on October 10, before facing the host, Canada, on October 11, in a four-nation Twent20 tournament.
This will be Zimbabwe's second international outing after the tour of Pakistan in January.
Despite missing the services of potential hard-hitting batsmen Vusi Sibanda, Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams, the inconsistent but talented national team boasts a handful of experienced young players.
Among them is all-rounder, Elton Chigumbura, wicket-keeper/batsman, Tatenda Taibu, Stuart Matsikenyeri Hamilton Masakadza and off-spinners, Raymond Price, captain Prosper Utseya and Graeme Cremer.
National team coach, Walter Chawaguta, is confident that the new kid on the block, Cephas Zhuwawo (pictured), who has impressed as an opening batsman, will use the tour to boost his confidence.
"Vusi is an attacking opening batsman, replacing him will be difficult but we have young and promising stars. Zhuwawo has been doing well in local super leagues and the tour of Canada and Kenya should put him where he should be," Chawaguta said.
Zimbabwe will play Pakistan on October 12, in Toronto.
Chawaguta hopes that history will repeat itself after their surprise victory over Australia in the Twenty20 World Cup, held in South Africa last year.
"We have been playing a number of competitive Super leagues, which were in the form of twenty20 cricket and they have helped the boys prepare for their assignment," Chawaguta said.
After the last match in Canada, on October 12, Chawaguta and his troops will tour Kenya, for the tri-angular series featuring Ireland, Zimbabwe and the hosts.
The eight-day tournament will be played at the Nairobi Gymkhana club, where the three countries will play a round robin series before a final.
Despite Zimbabwe's suspension from next year's edition of the Twenty20 global showpiece in England, the countries involved in the tour of Canada and Kenya have been reported to be "comfortable with playing against Zimbabwe."
Squad: Prosper Utseya (captain), Regis Chakabva, Chamu Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Graeme Cremer, Keith Dabengwa, Tymcen Maruma, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Chris Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa, Taurai Muzarabani, Raymond Price, Tatenda Taibu, Cephas Zhuwao. Coach- Walter Chawaguta, Manager- Givemore Makoni.

The secret behind Monomotapa

HARARE - Eemerging Harare giants, Monomotapa Football Club, have enjoyed life on the top of the CBZ premier soccer league, log standings for several months.
There is debate about whether the champions, Dynamos, will catch up or if the Glamour Boys will watch the cup slipping away, with Monos' every win fueling the debate.
With the players' hunger for victory, the dedication and passionate love of football by the head coach and the commitment of the team sponsors, Monomotapa will claim a place among the big three of Zimbabwean football: Caps United, affectionately known as The Green Machine, Dynamos and Highlanders, also known as Bosso.
What has made Monomotapa tick this year?
They certainly did not take advantage of The Green Machine's low form this season, neither will their power over Bosso in the first half of the season, be related to the team's blunder of firing a loyal and tactful coach, Methembe Ndlovu, nor was their dominance over De-mbare due to David Mandigora's typical challenge of reading games.
They are all football can ask for from a good quality team.
The team headed by Mapeza, consists of assistant Rodwell Dhlakama, team manager Clayton Munemo, and lady medic Loveness Mangena.
On several visits to the team's training sessions at Alex Sports Club, The Zimbabwean witnessed a strong bond between Mapeza and his charges. He has been described by captain, Mthulisi Maphosa, as a coach very good in motivating his troops.
Mapeza, 36, the youngest coach in the premier league, has been described by other football analyst as being "too serious", hardly relaxing on the bench even when his team is in control of the game.
"I'm serious because I want to win, people have to be serious in everything they aim to achieve in life, I hate losing," Mapeza said.
Mapeza has always made sure he doesn't get too close to his team off the field.
"If players get too close to the coach, they tend to lose their respect for him," he said.
Monomotapa do not train twice daily, but they do train 24 hours before a match, a day most coaches prefer to rest their players for the big game.
All the credit for the club's remarkable performance so far, will not be hailed to the technical team alone. The boys have shown a lot of maturity and have plunged into their battles with the team at heart.
Among them is Daniel Zokoto, Maphosa, Charles Chiutsa, Godfrey Mangove, Tendai Samanja and Luckmore Simango.
"We have players who are not mercenaries, players who have been there for the club since division one and players who have the team at heart. Though we did not struggle to the point of fighting relegation in 2005, the loss of experienced Malawian based players, Peter Mponda, Robert Nga'mbi and Patrick Nyasulu back to their countries due to the country's economic challenges affected us. But we are happy we survived and the coach has managed to share his experiences as a player with the team," Club Secretary, David Makombe said.

KOBA outwit Volleyball giants

HARARE - The Kutama Old Boys Association outwitted volleyball heavyweights, Bulldogs, 3-2 in the Cransburg's Super 8 tournament on October 4.
Bulldogs, who had never tasted defeat on the local scene, got a surprise when KOBA came from behind to grab the title in a tightly contested last set.
National team player and best spiker of the tournament, Tatenda Mapigoti, powered Bulldogs to a 2-0 lead with his powerful jump serves and attack, giving KOBA's experienced players Karlee Chiware, captain Tawanda Sithole, Kudzi Chironga and Everisto Mupukuta, a tough time.
But Chiware and Mupukuta turned the tables in the last three sets leading the attack as Sithole mounted a strong block.
Despite Bulldogs setter, Tawanda Pamire's splendid second balls that were met with a strong finish by Tendai Mupingu, KOBA had faith in Tendai Mugamu who scooped the best setter award.
"We could see it coming because we had so much prepared for this tournament, now I can say we are the team to beat," Sithole said.
Meanwhile, Gweru's Railton Cats won the women's edition of the Super 4 showdown.
They outwitted Dolphins and Jewel Sisters as Thobekile Mswazi and Patricia Muzokomba won the best spiker and most valuable player respectively.
Dolphins' Maceline Ngosi, was awarded the best receiver.
Jewel Sisters' Portia Chiwetu was dubbed the best blocker as the best setter award went to Eunice Mutede of J.S Harare.

Picture caption: Dolphins' Grace Chirumanzu volleys a fish ball behind J.S Harare's block. J.S won 3-2 over Dolphins.