It looks gloomy for Musona

in the key 2012 Nations Cup qualifier against Liberia at the National Sports Stadium on September 4.
Musona has been restricted to athletics classes, as part of his rehabilitation programme, and is only expected to kick his first ball, in training, next Wednesday.
Given that it’s not certainly known how he would react when he returns to ball training, the German club believe rushing him into a match four days later would be a big gamble.

Musona has scored all the Warriors’ goals in this campaign and his likely absence will certainly be worsened by the suspension of his striking partner Nyasha Mushekwi from that match.
The forward has been included in the provisional squad announced by coach Norman Mapeza and is expected to fly home this weekend for medical assessment by the Warriors’ doctors.
Fifa insist that nations have the right to conduct their own medical examinations on their players in the event they want to ascertain their fitness for international assignments. The world football governing body gave national associations such powers after it emerged that some clubs were preventing their players from fulfilling national duties on the pretext that they were injured.

Musona was injured two weeks ago during a training session at his new Bundesliga side.
Yesterday Hoffeinheim revealed that the striker’s recovery programme means that he can only start training next Wednesday.
Hoffeinheim assistant coach, Andre Trulsen, told The Herald that the striker, who got injured in the adductor area of the leg, is under rehabilitation with the best experts at the club.
He said the medical team wanted Musona to fully recover, without being rushed into action, so that he can be in good physical condition when he makes his Bundesliga debut.

“It was a pity that Knowledge got injured two weeks ago,” said Trulsen.
“He got the best support through our doctors and is in therapy dealing with the doctors, physiotherapists and the athletics’ coaches.
“Now he is doing athletics training consisting of running. And he will begin special football training in seven days.

“We are not rushing anything because we want no risk so that the injury will not come back again.”
The German coach said his club has already been impressed by Musona who has shown signs of making a quick adjustment to the European league.
They believe he might become a vital member of the team.

“I have to give Knowledge the compliment, how quick he is learning and how fast he is becoming a member of the group,” said Trulsen.
“We are sure he will do well for the club. And we saw it in training that he can be very helpful to the team and for our club.
“He is really a good scorer, is fast and for each opponent it’s really difficult to attack (him).”

Hoffeinheim have begun well in the Bundesliga, which started three weeks ago, and have managed two wins and a defeat.
Mapeza has included his chief striker Musona in the Warriors squad and would want to have his own assessment of the player here.
With bustling Mamelodi Sundowns forward Mushekwi already ruled out because of suspension, Mapeza has been left with limited options in his final line of attack, in which he has also included

Edward Sadomba and Simba Sithole.
Musona has been the magician in the team, usually providing the goals just when the team needed them, and his likely absence will be a huge blow for the Warriors.
Ironically, when he missed the game against Mali in Bamako through injury, the Warriors fired blanks and were beaten 0-1.

Musona is now providing the talisman role that Peter Ndlovu used to play in the Warriors – always providing that magical spark.
But it is not all gloomy for the gaffer as some of his charges are doing well at their clubs.

On Wednesday night Ajax Cape Town attacking midfielder Khama Billiart scored his first league goal this season, to take his overall tally to three, when his priceless strike earned his team the first full set of points against Santos.

Khamaldinho, who has emerged as a key member of the Warriors, was unlucky when his goal, scored from a good position, was somehow disallowed for an non-existent offside against Mali. He, however, scored in the friendly international against Zambia.

Warriors’ rightback Gilbert Mapemba has also featured in all the opening matches for his new club Moroka Swallows.
Warriors and Sundowns captain Method Mwanjali and goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini have also been featuring in matches for their respective clubs.
Warrior’s midfielder Willard “Bute” Katsande and defender Lincolin Zvasiya, who recently joined South African giants Kaizer Chiefs, are yet to play in the new Premiership term.