The tournament which will include Uganda, Ethiopia, and Rwanda will come a week after the Warriors’ clash with Zambia’s Chipolopolo at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on August 8.
The invitations come at a time when the cash strapped Zifa cannot afford to host other nations as Zimbabwe tries to fine tune its team ahead of the final Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Angola set for the weekend of September 7 to 9.
Zifa Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Mashingaidze says they are happy with the Uganda invite as it comes on a Fifa dates adding that coach Rahman Gumbo is free to call his foreign based players for the tournament.
Clubs are forced to release players for national team duty on Fifa dates which the international football body has reserved for national teams to play friendly matches. The Uganda tournament starts on August 15 which is a Fifa date.
Mashingaidze said the tournament provides Gumbo with the best chance to assess his players before the game against Angola saying the Zimbabwe Football Association are putting everything in place to ensure that all the players Gumbo requires for the tournament are available.
Zimbabwe are desperate to build a strong team to overcome Angola and qualify for the Nations Cup after six years of failure and matches such as the Uganda tournament provides the chance to try combinations.
Post published in: Football