BY OnSport Reporter
WARRIORS’ coach Michael Nees is eager to assess Belgium-based striker Bill Antonio in the two friendly matches against Burkina Faso and Niger in Morocco to see how the forward can fit into his system of play.
The Warriors will take on Burkina Faso on Friday and Niger next Tuesday in Casablanca as part of the senior men’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals to be held in the North African country from December 21 to January 18 2026.
Antonio, the former Dynamos player, now plying his trade in Belgium for K.V. Mechelen, missed out on previous Warriors assignments due to injury and has not played under the German mentor Nees.
Nees will also be closely assessing Nantes’ Tino Kadewere, who also has been affected by injury, as well as returning goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze, who has starred for his side Magesi in South Africa.
“In terms of team development, we want to integrate these new players. We basically will have to play with a complete new midfield because all the players who usually play or start in the midfield are out.
“Then it’s also, you know, some players their season ended, some are in mid-season. That will be also from a loading aspect. “We must look how this will be affecting the set-up of the team. We have some players who came back from a long injury as well, like Tino or even Bill Antonio, although he is already playing, he has not been yet having 90-minute games. And of course, we have some newer players back, like Elvis (Chipezeze), or players who performed well in their clubs,” Nees said.
Of Antonio, Nees added: “He is a versatile player, a real winger and a very dynamic one and I think we will be very keen how he will fit in into our way of playing for him. He is also new. I think the last time he was with the Warriors was long before my time.”
Also under scrutiny will midfielders Jonah Fabisch, who is based in Germany, Highlanders’ Mason Mushore, who replaces injured Richard Hachiro and SuperSport United striker Terrence Dzvukamanja who fills in for Tanzania-based Prince Dube, who is also injured.
Nees said they want to give new players much-needed game time in the two friendlies.
“But the mood looks to be really good and the squad is of course composed of some new faces, some new players and we want to see how they in gel in and how can we assemble, very quickly, a competitive team for the Friday match and then of course the Tuesday one. We need to assemble very quick and get a certain harmony but we want to also give as many players as possible game time in these two friendlies.
“We cannot say in advance who and which but of course we want to give as many players as possible game time,” Nees said.
Of the regular players, captains Marshall Munetsi and Marvelous Nakamba, are not part of the Squad in Morocco and so is Andy Rinomhota and Knowledge Musona.
The squad
Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants), Elvis Chipezeze (Magesi), Marley Tavaziva (Brentford)
Defenders: Teenage Hadebe (Cincinnati), Gerald Takwara (Al Minaa SC), Munashe Garananga (FC Copenhagen), Isheanesu Mauchio (Simba Bhora), Peter Muduhwa (Scottland), Godknows Murwira (Scottland), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos)
Midfielders: Mthokozisi Msebe (Scottland), Khama Billiat (Scottland), Mason Mushore (Highlanders), Jonah Fabisch (FC Aue), Donald Mudadi (Simba Bhora), Sean Fusire (Sheffield Wednesday), Daniel Msendami (Marumo Gallants), Bill Antonio (K.V. Mechelen).
Strikers: Terrence Dzvukamanja (SuperSport) Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell), Walter Musona (Scottland), Tawanda Macheke (TelOne FC), Tino Kadewere (Nantes)
