Goalkeeper crisis hits Warriors camp

Yesterday, captain Kapini was still holed up in South Africa where he underwent a scan on his left ankle after he pulled some ligaments and is expected to join camp today and team doctor Nich Munyonga will have to assess him first.

The technical department, which is seeking nothing short of a victory in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations tie at Rufaro, will be praying that the experienced AmaZulu goalminder, who was injured three weeks ago during an Absa Premiership match, is certified fit.

In the event that the seasoned pair is ruled, out coach Rahman Gumbo would have to choose between the rookie pair of former Under-23 goalie Ariel Sibanda and Dynamos George Chigova.

Sibanda is experienced in the junior teams and was in the Young Warriors team which also had Abbas Amidu, Denver Mukamba and Archieford Gutu, which featured in the All-Africa Games qualifiers. The team beat Zambia in the preliminary round but lost to  neighbours South Africa and failed to progress to the group stages.

Sibanda has been the rock on which Bosso have built their defence around while Chigova, the former Under-20 team goalkeeper, has also been a revelation since Washington Arubi left Dynamos for the South African Premiership.

At yesterday morning’s workout, only four foreign based players — Arnold Chaka, Khama Billiart, Oscar Machapa, Abbas Amidu — together with nine local players, went through the fitness testing which worked on upper body strength, agility, speed and endurance.
Dynamos midfielder Mukamba, FC Platinum striker Donald Ngoma, Hwange’s Rodwell Chinyengetere, Motor Action defender Passmore Benard, Shabanie Mine forward Nelson Maziwisa, Highlanders midfielder Peter “Rio” Moyo and the three goalkeepers went through their paces at Rufaro.

The exercise, which also served to expose injuries, was conducted by the newly appointed fitness trainer Gerald Maguranyanga who has reunited with the national team after his last romance in 2004 when the team got their first Nations Cup appearance.

It was during the fitness session that the Motor Action goalkeeper picked up the injury.
Last night, team doctor Munyonga said they will only be in a position to comment on the goalkeeper after they assess him physically.

“I am awaiting the arrival of Kapini tomorrow (today) and will bring the scan which was done today (yesterday). At the moment I cannot say whether he is in or out. Marlon pulled a hamstring and didn’t continue with the fitness test.

“His chances of playing are close to zero. He is going to rest today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. When you get a hamstring injury you don’t want to quickly start training again,” said Munyonga.

The training camp has started at a slow pace and the whole morning was confined to the fitness testing while the afternoon session also began with the fitness session of bleep test before the players did some ball work with coaches Gumbo and his assistants David Mandigora and Peter Ndlovu.

The players are yet to reach the professional standards of the fitness level required and some huffed and puffed with the afternoon agility test.

The South Africa-based duo of Esrom Nyandoro and Takesure Chinyama, together with Belgium-based defender Vusa Nyoni also arrived in the afternoon but did not take part in training.

The technical department may be worried about the way the players are reporting for camp which may leave them with two meaningful days to train as a team before engaging Angola.

All the players except for Mike Temwanjira who has already been ruled out because of an injury, may start full training tomorrow and the late arrivals will also have to undergo the fitness test.

Coach Gumbo refused to field questions from the media yesterday and also barred his players from entertaining questions from the journalists after the workouts. Warriors team manager Nyika Chifamba said they expected the rest of the players to have joined camp by tomorrow evening.
Kalmer midfielder Gutu is expected to arrive this afternoon together with Denmark-based Quincy Antipas.

England-based Onismor Bhasera was also expected to arrive in South Africa for a brief family stopover before connecting to Harare today. Warriors chief striker Knowledge Musona and Cyprus-based Noel Kaseke are also expected to be in by this afternoon.