DYNAMOS striker Rodrick Mutuma was rewarded for an atrocious season when national team coach Kallisto Pasuwa named him in a 20-man local based squad to face Zambia.

The Warriors host Chipolopolo in a friendly match at the National Sports Stadium on Saturday evening.

The gangly Mutuma has four league goals to his name, with just two games left in the season and has been struggling to make DeMbare’s starting lineup.

His inclusion has raised dust but coach Pasuwa defended his decision saying his choice was based mainly on the players’ experience.

“Some of these players were partly involved in the Afcon qualifiers, some played Cosafa games and some were at the CHAN finals.

“All that is important when selecting players, you can take players on current form but when put on a grand stage, some buckle under pressure.

“Then you have players who have been in the system and are used to the rigors,” said Pasuwa on the sidelines of a press conference held at ZIFA offices Thursday afternoon.

Veteran Caps United striker and the Premiership’s top scorer Leonard Tsipa was also named among the five strikers.

The Hwange duo of Gift Mbweti and Pritchard Mpelele as well as Harare City’s William Manondo complete the list of strikers.

There was no place for inform Caps United central midfielder Devon Chafa as Pasuwa opted for the likes of Tendai Ndlovu (Highlanders), Jameson Mukombwe (Chapungu) and Farai Madhananga (Harare City).

Pasuwa’s favourites Ronald Chitiyo, Raphael Kutinyu, Talent Chawapiwa and Malvern Gaki are the other midfielders.

Highlanders’ star centre back Peter Muduhwa was overlooked but his teammate Honest Moyo made it as Pasuwa also retained the Chicken Inn duo of Lawrence Mhlanga and Teenage Hadebe.

Players from FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum were deliberately omitted as the two teams are clashing in a Chibuku Super Cup final on the same day the Warriors host Chipolopolo.

Full Warriors squad

Goalkeepers
Tatenda Mukuruva (Dynamos), Donovan Bernard (How Mine)

Defenders
Godknows Murwira (Dynamos), Hardlife Zvirekwi (Caps United), Ronald Pfumbidzai (Caps United), Honest Moyo (Highlanders), Lawrence Moyo (Chicken Inn), Teenage Hadebe (Chicken Inn)

Midfielders
Tendai Ndlovu (Highlanders), Farai Madhananga (Harare City), Jameson Mukombwe (Chapungu), Raphael Kutinyu (Chicken Inn), Ronald Chitiyo (Harare City), Talent Chawapiwa (Harare City), Malvern Gaki (Triangle)

Strikers
Pritchard Mpelele (Hwange), Gift Mbweti (Hwange), Leonard Tsipa (Caps United), Rodrick Mutuma (Dynamos), William Manondo (Dynamos)