Bafana Bafana are set to face a weakened Zimbabwe in Friday's 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup qualifier in Harare following the withdrawal of numerous players.
Headlining the absentees is Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba who has been swallowed by the stringent covid-19 travel restrictions in the United Kingdom when travelling from red-listed countries.
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Nakamba is into his third season at Villa and is a regular for the Warriors, who have been stubborn in holding hopes that he might be allowed to travel despite the English Premier League insisting that players will not be released.
The others in the UK not travelling who had been called up are Tendai Darikwa at Wigan Athletic, Jordan Zemura at Bournemouth, Brendan Galloway (Plymouth Argyle), Ethan Kachosa (Sunderland), Macauley Bonne (Ipswich Town) and Admiral Muskwe at Luton Town who all play in the lower leagues of England.
David Moyo plays for Hamilton Academical in Scotland.
Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Teenage Hadebe will also not be available as his struggling MLS club Houston Dynamo have chosen to hold on to him due to the same covid-19 issues.
Another ex-Chiefs man Ovidy Karuru who is currently club hunting will also not be available along with Jimmy Dzingai.
Several players that are either currently playing or have played in South Africa have been called up as replacements including Knox Mutizwa of Golden Arrows.
The plus is that Marshall Munetsi – who faced Lionel Messi on Sunday – will be available along with Tino Kadewere of Lyon.
Zimbabwe squad:
Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants), Talbert Shumba (Free State Stars), Martin Mapisa (Zamora CF, Spain)
Defenders: Divine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns), Onismor Bhasera (SuperSport United), Alec Mudimu (Torpedo Kutaisi, Georgia), Takudzwa Chimwemwe, Kevin Moyo (both Nkana FC, Zambia), Godknows Murirwa (Dynamos, Zimbabwe), William Stima (FC Platinum, Zimbabwe)
Midfielders: Marshall Munesti (Stade de Reims, France), Perfect Chikwende (Simba SC, Tanzania), Thabani Kamusoko, Tafadzwa Rusike (both ZESCO United, Zambia), Jonah Fabisch (Hamburger SV, Germany), Butholezwe Ncube (AmaZulu), Marvelous Nakamba (Aston Villa), Kuda Mahachi (SuperSport United), Khama Billiat (Kaizer Chiefs), Blessing Sarupinda (Sekhukhune United), Silas Songani (FC Platinum, Zimbabwe) Farai Madhananga (Marumo Gallants), Ishamel Wadi (JDR Stars)
Strikers: Knowledge Musona (Al Tai, Saudi Arabia), Tino Kadewere (Lyon, France), Terrence Dzvukamanja (Orlando Pirates), Knox Mutizwa (Golden Arrows)
Scroll through the gallery below to see the players who originally missed out on the 23-man squad
