Hesron Kapanga 

International footballer Ryan Nyambe, who plays for League One outfit Derby County in the United Kingdom, will not be available for the Brave Warriors squad for the World Cup qualifiers or Cosafa Cup as he is undergoing rehabilitation.

Brave Warriors coach Collin Benjamin called up a 52-man squad earlier this month to prepare for the World Cup qualifiers against Liberia and Tunisia on 05 and 09 June 2024, as well as the upcoming Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) Cup.

Benjamin, who trimmed his squad from 52 players to 35 on Tuesday, told Nampa the young players who were called up made a good impression in the first three days.

“We worked on individual techniques a lot to see how far the players are, especially those we scouted in the newspaper. We have now reduced the team to 35 and we are going to focus on team tactics,” he said, adding that the younger players who were dropped had to write examinations, but he will call them up in future.

Benjamin also told the agency that Brave Warriors defender Nyambe is not available as he is undergoing rehabilitation from an injury sustained during what was a gruelling season.

“Nyambe is undergoing rehab, but we have young guys and Ivan Kamberipa, who did a good job at Afcon against Mali, who can step in. This is a good opportunity for other guys and for us to create capacity as a country. This is an opportunity that other players must use and say, coach, I am here,” he said.

The coach stated that he hopes Nyambe will have a speedy recovery, while also wishing Ananias Gebhardt, who ended his international career, all the best for the future.

“Gebhardt has given his all for his country and after such a long career with the Brave Warriors, we are proud of his achievements and wish him all the best. I hope the young players called up will seize this opportunity to test themselves,” Benjamin said.

He also noted that Kamaijanda Ndisiro, who did not form part of the initial 52-man squad, has been called up to the national team as one of the goalkeepers.

“We planned to have Lloyd Kazapua as the first choice for the World Cup qualifiers, with a junior goalkeeper as the third choice. Eduard Maova was intended to be the first choice for the Cosafa Cup. But with his team’s involvement in a relegation battle, I am doubting that Maova would be available for the team if they go for the playoffs. Therefore, we called up Ndisiro,” he said.

Nampa