Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIFA stepped in on Tuesday to calm rising outrage after a flurry of withdrawals from the Warriors camp sparked accusations that players were being pushed out under the cover of injuries, throwing the team’s Africa Cup of Nations preparations into early turmoil.
What began as routine assessments quickly turned into a storm. Several players were released within days of reporting for duty, and social media exploded with claims that some of them were perfectly fit.
The rumours spread fast enough for the association to issue a detailed medical briefing to steady the situation and defend the integrity of the call up process.
In its statement, ZIFA said it aimed to ‘clarify the situation regarding players carrying injuries’ and emphasised that decisions had been made after full examinations by the national team’s medical staff.
The association said each case had been reviewed through scans, physical checks and GPS load readings from the opening sessions.
Walter Musona is at the centre of the storm. He picked up a hamstring injury in the friendly against Algeria and missed training before the Qatar match because of ongoing pain. ZIFA said he failed to submit an ultrasound scan before camp, prompting an MRI on the first day. The association said he will return once cleared medically. Hours later he posted ‘1000% fit,’ a message that only fuelled questions already circulating online.
Emmanuel Jalai has been excused temporarily due to a thigh contusion from a league match against Triangle and is expected back on Thursday for fresh checks. Tymon Machope and Junior Makunike arrived carrying injuries that the medical team concluded would not heal in time for AFCON, leading to their release. Xolani Ndlovu was injured on the first day of training and asked to step aside to recover.
Andrew Mbeba, who has long managed a troublesome right knee last aggravated against Green Fuel, was also ruled out after tests showed he would not regain full fitness.
ZIFA said most of the players submitted requested radiological reports and added that training data supported the medical staff’s recommendations. With options shrinking earlier than expected, the technical team will now broaden the pool and call up players who were not in the original 55 man provisional squad.
As scrutiny around the national team intensifies, the association insists transparency and player welfare remain central to its AFCON build up, though the noise surrounding the opening week of camp points to a campaign already battling its first storm.
