Brendan Galloway: Zimbabwe defender ruled out of Unity Cup

Zimbabwe national team have suffered a huge blow as they prepare for the upcoming Unity Cup to be played in London.

After being summoned in the squad by national team interim coach Kaitano Tembo, who was recently released by EFL League One club Plymouth Argyle, has been ruled out after failing to recover in time from his injury problem.

The left-back was among the experienced player summoned by Tembo for his first assignment as the head coach since his appointment a few weeks ago.

Galloway suffering from injury

The 30-year-old was one of nine members of the Pilgrims squad, who will not be offered new deals this summer. Galloway, who has had a number of injury issues, had spent the past five years at Home Park and made 110 appearances, scoring six times.

While naming his squad, Tembo recalled the Wolverhampton Wanderers star in the 23-member squad alongside Greece-based forward Tino Kadewere (Aris Thessaloniki FC), and winger Tawanda Chirewa (Barnsley FC, England), who, too, had issues with the previous national team selectors.

Tembo elected to summon Ipswich Town FC defender Colbin Mthunzi with the other new face for the upcoming tournament being Brentford FC reserve team goalkeeper Marley Tavaziwa.

Other notable absentees are striker Macauley Bonne (Billericay Town FC) and fellow England-based midfielder Andrew Rinomhota of Reading FC.

The Unity Cup is expected to give the Warriors technical team a chance to assess players and combinations ahead of future international assignments, with a mixture of locally-based and foreign-based players likely to be included in the squad.

The Warriors’ squad is expected to regroup soon ahead of their participation in the Unity Cup, starting off with a semifinal meeting with Nigeria at The Valley, Charlton, on Tuesday, 26 May 2026.

The second semifinal between India and Jamaica scheduled for Wednesday, 27 May 2027.

Warriors squad for the Unity Cup:

Goalkeepers:
Marley Tavaziva (Brentford, England)
Future Sibanda (ZPC Kariba, Zimbabwe)
Elvis Chipezeze (Magesi FC, South Africa)

Defenders:
Munashe Garananga (Hibernian FC, Scotland)
Corbin Mthunzi (Ipswich Town, England)
Shane Maroodza (FK Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina)
Gerald Takwara (Al-Ittihad Misurata, Libya)
Jordan Zemura (Udinese, Italy)
Divine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa)
Emmanuel Jalai (Durban City FC, South Africa)
Sean Fusire (Sheffield Wednesday, England)

Midfielders:
Mongameli Tshuma (Highlanders FC, Zimbabwe)
Marvelous Nakamba (Sheffield Wednesday, England)
Aboubacar Moffat (Scotland, Zimbabwe)
Jonah Fabisch (Erzgebirge Aue, Germany)
Marshall Munetsi (Paris FC, France)
Tawanda Chirewa (Barnsley FC, England)

Forwards:
Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell FC, Scotland)
Prince Dube (Young Africans SC, Tanzania)
Junior Zindoga (TS Galaxy, South Africa)
Bill Antonio (KV Mechelen, Belgium)
Daniel Msendami (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)
Tino Kadewere (Aris Thessaloniki, Greece)