By Sport Reporter
It’s a new dawn for the Warriors who are now under the tutelage of German gaffer Michael Nees who was unveiled last week.
Nees’ first assignment will be two tricky encounters against The Harambee Stars of Kenya and The Teranga Lions of Cameroon in the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers games.
Nees on Monday released a 23-man squad to do duty for the nation including nine local players.
Without a doubt, the return of Khama Billiat in the Warriors fold has been welcomed by the Zimbabwean football fraternity.
Somehow goalkeeper Washington Arubi’s inclusion has sparked a debate among football fans as many feel that the veteran shot-stopper is now in the twilight of his career and shouldn’t be included in the Warriors project which somehow is trying to find its fit in the international community after serving a ban for nearly two years.
Arubi (39) is the oldest player in Michael Nees’ squad and he boasts 13 caps in the Warriors colours.
Was Arubi Needed In The Squad?
Based on Michael Nees’ words that he has been analysing Zimbabwe’s past World Cup Qualifiers games against South Africa and Lesotho in the World Cup Qualifiers which were played in June, probably he noticed that the goalkeeping department was the greatest setback in those two games.
Zimbabwe lost 2-0 to Lesotho at Orlando Stadium and Bernard Donavan was the fall guy as he made some goalkeeping blunders which saw the interim coach by then Jairos Tapera crucifying him for Godfrey Chitsumba in the next game against Bafana Bafana at Free state stadium in Bloemfontein.
However, just like Donavan the Manica Diamonds goalie struggled and was one of the teams’ setbacks in its 3-1 defeat.
Based on those two assessments Michael Nees might be on a mission to seek a solution to that crisis by calling back Washington Arubi into the Warriors fold.
Arubi was last called for international duty by Baltermir Brito last year in October but has been doing well in South Africa where he is playing for Marumo Gallants.
As they say, the goalkeepers are like wine, the older they are, the more they mature.
“I think the squad is good, especially in the goalkeepers’ department, the inclusion of Washington Arubi is a good pick because if you look in the previous games the squad has been lacking experience in that department.
“Not only that but also they were a bit jittery, hopefully, Arubi will be the answer to that, ” said football analyst Tom Nyathi.
Arubi’s Warriors Adventure
Somehow the veteran goalie has not been lucky in the Warriors colours, despite all the longevity in the Warriors fold ever since making his debut in 2010, Arubi has had very 13 call-ups to represent the nation.
Why is that so? In 2015 the former SuperSport and Dynamos goalie coasted the nation when Zimbabwe hosted Genue at Rufaro stadium when he made a schoolboy blunder which saw Zimbabwe playing a 1-1 draw against the West African side.
Could the coming AFCON Qualifiers games be the time that Arubi will redeem himself in the Warriors colours?
