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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
PRESSING family issues have forced defender Teenage Hadebe to miss the Warriors’ training camp and his availability remains uncertain.
Sixteen players turned up for camp on the first day of training as coach Norman Mapeza and his technical team got the Africa Cup of Nations finals preparations underway.
The Tanzanian-based trio of defender Bruce Kangwa, attacking midfielder Never Tigere and gunslinger Prince Dube, their South African-based counterparts Knox Mutizwa, Onesimo Bhasera and Kudakwashe Mahachi as well as Zambian-based midfielder Thabani Kamusoko were expected to join camp yesterday.
Goalkeeper Martin Mapisa is expected to touch down from Spain today.
Skipper Knowledge Musona, who is based in Saudi Arabia, Tinotenda Kadewere plying his trade in France and the British-based trio of Jordan Zemura, David Moyo and Admiral Muskwe will fly straight to Yaounde, Cameroon.
“The last player is Martin Mapisa who is arriving tomorrow, Kuda, Knox, Bhasera, Prince, Never, Bruce, Mudimu and Kamusoko are arriving today and then Tino, Jordan, David, Knowledge, and Admiral will fly straight to Yaounde. Teenage has issues at home which he is attending to.
I will talk to him again today to find out how he is handling his delicate situation,” said national teams’ general manager Wellington Mpandare yesterday.
Meanwhile, efforts to talk to Khama Billiat to reverse his decision to quit international football came to naught, with the Kaizer Chiefs man now ruled out of the Afcon finals.
He leaves an indelible mark in the national team, having been pivotal in the squad’s three Afcon finals qualification in Guinea, Egypt and now Cameroon.
“Khama will not be available.
We will respect his decision.
We want to thank him for the time he played for the national team.
Helping the team qualify for Afcon for three consecutive times is no mean achievement.
However, the door will remain open for him for future assignments,” said Mpandare.
The technical team will announce the final 23 players that will travel for the 33rd edition of the Afcon finals on December 31 ahead of their departure the following day.
Online Reporter