Zdravko’s Devine U-Turn

Sports Reporter

WARRIORS coach Zdravko Logarusic has accepted left back Divine Lunga back into the team despite Fifa postponing the 2022 World Cup qualifiers to September.

The Golden Arrows player missed the Botswana and Zambia Afcon qualifiers under controversial circumstances – with the player reported injured but playing for his club in South Africa during the same period.

Logarusic was angered by Lunga’s behaviour and that of other players who seemed to have snubbed the national team, and he vowed to freeze them out.

However, Lunga found himself back in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers team announced on Thursday, before they were postponed to September and October.

“It is something that is normal when it comes to national teams, but the most important thing is that the coach had a change of heart. Unlike other players that were ignoring the call to duty, his was a case that could be explained,” said an insider.

Onismor Bhasera, who was included last minute and played a blinder against Botswana, remains part of Logarusic’s plans after being returned in the team.

Also included in the team was former Everton fullback Brendan Galloway who is now at Championship side Luton Town.

Galloway announced the decision to finally play for Zimbabwe soon after the team qualified for the Afcon finals, a move that was met with mixed feelings, with critics pointing at the timing of the decision.

Leicester City striker Admiral Muskwe, who is on loan at Championship side Wycombe Wanderers, also makes a return.

As revealed by ZTN, during this week, the technical team faced the dilemma in the selection of Kaizer Chiefs star Khama Billiat and Orlando Pirates forward Terrence Dzvukamanja who are both recovering from injury.

A big risk was taken to include both, an indication that the two players will certainly be called up by Logarusic for both the World Cup qualifiers in September and the Afcon Finals in Cameroon.

Zimbabwe was set to face South Africa in the first group G match at the National Sports Stadium on June 5 before facing Ethiopia on June 11.

Both matches will now be played later in the year including the back-to-back clashes with Ghana.

Only the group winners from the nine groups will progress to the third and final round where five teams will qualify.