Mapeza reveals why he did not select Katsande & 3 other players, denies he received orders from ZIFA

Norman Mapeza has denied rumours that he ordered by ZIFA not to select Willard Katsande, Cuthbert Malajila, Matthew Rusike and Nyasha Mushekwi and stated that he had opted not to call up the senior players to make way for younger talent.

Said Mapeza:

For me, never. I’m not the substantive coach here. I’m just here for this game. So who is going to tell me not to pick this one and pick that one? Nobody told me that. We have got youngsters here they also need an opportunity to play football. Cuthbert is approaching 33, Nyasha is, I don’t know, maybe 31-32. So, we have to give these youngsters a chance. I don’t have any problem with those guys, I have worked with them before. So, if I really needed them I was going to call them.

Marvelous Nakamba, Kuda Mahachi, Danny Phiri and Evans Rusike joined the Warriors camp quashing speculation that they intended to boycott camp to protest the omission of four senior players from the national team squad.

More: Herald