(April 22,2005) ZIMBABWE’s foreign-based footballers will join their local counterparts for a one week training camp in Belgium next month in preparations for their World Cup/ African Cup of Nations qualifier against Gabon in Harare on June 6. Zimbabwe were invited to Belgium for the training camp from 20-29 May, giving coaches Charles Mhlauri and his assistant Moses Chunga enough time to prepare the team that has had a history of camping late before a crucial match.

Warriors assistant manager Sharif Mussa said yesterday the technical department would be travelling with a squad of 22 players that will play against Gabon and the subsequent matches. “We are going to Belgium with all the players we will use for our forthcoming matches. We will travel with a 22-member squad that will be considered for the match against Gabon.

We have since established that all our players based outside the country will be on an offseason break. So we will have all our players for this training camp,” said Mussa. Zimbabwe have most of their players in the South African Premier Soccer League, while others are based in Europe.

The most notable of the European based players are AJ Auxerre striker Benjani Mwaruwari and Shingirai Kawondera who is based in Cyprus.

The Warriors technical department is scheduled to meet today and name the squad that will make the trip to Belgium.

The Belgians, who will foot the bill for the Warriors’ stay in that country, have been supplying the senior team with equipment and training kit.

The Warriors revived their chances of qualification for the World Cup/African Cup of Nations in Germany and Egypt by beating former Group Four leaders Angola 2-0 on 27 March, climbing to third position on the log with eight points.

They are behind leaders Nigeria who have 13 points and Angola with 11 points.