Warriors duo of in-form striker Tino Kadewere and Kaizer Chiefs star Khama Billiat have been ruled out of the Zimbabwe’s World Cup qualifier preliminary round first leg against Somalia.

The two, were expected to be an intergral component of Joey Antipas’s new-look Warriors attack, will not play amid revelations that Billiat asked to be excused to attend medical check ups while Kadewere’s Le Havre wrote to ZIFA indicating that the association’s call up was not done on time.

Antipas confirmed the development ahead of the tie.

“There are a number of players, especially those who are playing abroad, which we wanted to be part of the team but could not be here for different reasons,’’ Antipas said according to The Herald. 

“We have injuries, some are yet to regularise their papers and we allowed some to have time to settle at their clubs. ”

“I want to give a number of players a chance and when others are not available it is a chance for others to prove they can do well for the national team.” he added.

Billiat and Kadewere will be replaced in the squad for the first leg by Sipho Ndlovu of Chicken Inn and Knox Mutizwa of Golden Arrows respectively.