Zanzibar assistant coach fires warning to Heroes aces

Dar es Salaam. Zanzibar Heroes assistant coach Malale Hamsin Keya yesterday issued an ultimatum to four players who have yet to report at camp.

Said Makapu, Matheo Anthony, both from Yanga, Nassoro Masoud (Stand United) and Khamis Ali (KMKM) have defied call-ups and the axe would fall on them if they fail to show up today.

Zanzibar Heroes have assembled in the Isles in preparation for the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup, which will kick off in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on November 21.

“We have decided to give them until Thursday to join their teammates or else they will be axed from the Heroes,” he said.

“We are disappointed that the quartet have not shown up for training even though we understand that they have no club duties,” Keya said.

The coach said 22 players have so far converged for camp with the exception of seven stars, three of them are on national team (Taifa Stars) duty.

He named the trio with Taifa Stars as Nadir Haroub, Haji Mwinyi Mngwali and Mudathir Yahya.

They will link up with the Heroes after a double-legged qualifier for the 2018 World Cup against Algeria.

The first leg will take place at the National Stadium on Saturday followed by the second leg three days later in Algiers.

Zanzibar Heroes are in group B of the Challenge Cup together defending champions Kenya, Uganda and Burundi.

The Heroes players in camp are Mwadini Ali, Mohamed Abrahman, Idrisa Ali and Mwalimu Ali, all are goalkeepers.

Defenders are Samir Haji, Adeyum Saleh, Ponsiana Malik, Agrey Moris, Said Mussa and Issa Haidar while midfielders are Awadhi Juma, Mohamed Abdurahman, Khamis Mcha, Ismail Khamis, Rashid Abdallah, Seleman Kassim, Omar Juma and Mbarouk Chande.

Strikers are Ibrahim Hilika, Jaku Joma, Abrahman Othman and Ame Ali.

He added that all players were in top shape and that they will play a build-up match against Pombeni FC at the Amaan Stadium today.