Zimbabwe have named a squad brimming with South African connections to take on Bafana Bafana and Lesotho in their last two World Cup qualifiers this month.
There are four players actively competing in the Betway Premiership who have been selected by coach Michael Nees, plus a further seven who previously competed at South African clubs.
Zimbabwe ‘host’ South Africa in their penultimate Group C clash at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on October 10 because they do not have a venue that has been passed fit for use in international games.
They then take on Lesotho three days later in Polokwane in their last qualifier for the 2026 finals in North America, having already been eliminated from the race.
AmaZulu striker Thando Ngwenya and Marumo Gallants’ 40-year-old goalkeeper Washington Arubi both started in Zimbabwe’s last qualifier, a 1-0 loss to Rwanda at the Orlando Stadium on September 9.
Mamelodi Sundowns’ left-back Divine Lunga returns after injury, and Elvis Chipezeze from Magesi is among the back-up goalkeepers.
The squad also sees a return for Khama Billiat, who missed out on the last two qualifiers. He and Knowledge Musona will be two players fondly remembered by South African fans from their time in the Premier Soccer League.
Also called up are Terrence Dzvukamanja, who left SuperSport United at the end of last season and joined Zimbabwe league leaders Scottland, and Walter Musona, who was previously at Polokwane City and Sekhukhune United.
Former Ajax Cape Town defender Gerald Takwara and Kaizer Chiefs centre-back Teenage Hadebe are expected to be in the starting line-up, while ex-Orlando Pirates utility player Marshall Munetsi is one of the four players from clubs in England.
Tanzanian-based striker Prince Dube was previously on the books at SuperSport but never played a competitive game.
Zimbabwe have also named Kaitano Tembo as one of their assistant coaches. He previously worked in the PSL at SuperSport and Sekhukhune.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants, South Africa), Elvis Chipezeze (Magesi, South Africa), Martin Mapisa (Moors World of Sport FC)
Defenders: Brandon Galloway (Plymouth Argyle, England), Munashe Garananga (FC Copenhagen, Denmark), Teenage Hadebe (FC Cincinnati, USA), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos), Divine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Godknows Murwira (Scottland), Gerald Takwara (Al Ittihad Misurata, Libya), Jordan Zemura (Udinese, Italy)
Midfielders: Tawanda Chirewa (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Jonah Fabisch (Erzgebirg Aue, Germany), Marshall Munetsi (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Knowledge Musona (Scottland), Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town, England)
Strikers: Bill Antonio (KV Mechelen, Belgium), Khama Billiat (Scottland), Prince Dube (Young Africans, Tanzania), Terrence Dzvukamanja (Scottland), Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell, Scotland), Walter Musona (Scottland), Thando Ngwenya (AmaZulu, South Africa).