Only Simba Sithole of Supersport United in South Africa did not train with the rest of the squad, with coach Klause Dieter Pagels telling reporters that the striker has aggravated a knee injury.
Pagels said if Sithole fails to recover in time for the game, he has other strikers capable of delivering the goods adding that he is not considering calling a replacement for the former Caps United and Dynamos hitman.
Team Manager, Shariff Mussa, said they would have Sithole assessed by the squad doctors to see if he would be able to recover in time for the game, which Pagels says the Warriors are excited about and raring to go.
Also missing in training was another South Africa based player, Khama Billiart, who has not yet reported for camp, with Mussa saying they were expecting him to join the rest of the squad later in the day as he was delayed while sorting out his club future in South Africa.
All the other players have responded for national duty, with South Africa based striker, Cuthbert Malajila, Wits University’s Denver Mukamba, Washington Arubi of Pretoria University, German based Knowledge Musona, as well as Belgium based Ovidy Karuru all in action.
Also in attendance were Tafadzwa and Mathew Rusike, and Lincoln Zvasiya, who also play their club football in South Africa as well as the locals Partson Jaure, Ocean Mushure, Felix Chindungwe, Devon Chafa, and Masimba Mambare.
Although Zimbabwe appear out of the running for a place at the World Cup finals after accumulating only one point from three matches, Pagels said they were going all flat out for a win against the Pharaohs to maintain that confidence in the team following their impressive showing in the 2-1 loss to the Egyptians in March.
Egypt lead the four country group with nine points from three games. Guinea are second with five points from the same number of games followed by Mozambique who are on two points. After the game against Egypt, Zimbabwe travel to Conakry for a game against Guinea on June 16.
Post published in: Football