adminof action for the rest of the season as he will need at least two months to recover.
The Warriors’ technical team yesterday said they were concerned with the mounting cases of injuries to key players ahead of the make-or-break qualifier against Angola in Luanda next month. Mukandi emptied his emotions, in a remorseful apology to the 24-year-old Warriors striker.
“I almost cried when I visited Roddy at the Avenues Clinic yesterday (Sunday) because I have never been involved in such a situation in my young career,” said Mukandi.
“I wouldn’t want to relive it again.
“I tried to picture myself in his place and with all the promise he has, wondering what could be the next move.
“He had had just broken into the national team and with a lot of promise.
“I feel deeply troubled and I want to offer a public apology to Roddy and the nation of Zimbabwe over that incident. It wasn’t intentional and up to now it pains me a lot just to think that I caused an injury to someone.”
Chinyengetere was stretchered off the pitch in agony almost an hour into the match, which Hwange went on to lose 0-3 at Rufaro on Saturday. In a show of good sportsmanship, Mukandi visited the player in hospital on Sunday with a token to express his apology.
“I couldn’t see him again today (yesterday) because he was said to be going for an operation but I am praying for him inside my heart.
“Roddy is such a nice guy and my wish is to see him play at the highest level.
“He has the talent and the physique. Up to now I can’t explain what really happened.
“I am still trying to come to terms with that incident. I still remember that I was going for the ball to make a routine save like any goalkeeper could do and I had not realised that the impact could get that worse.
“But there was Roddy on the ground crying for help and that is when I got to know that he was seriously injured. I signalled to the referee to stop play and my worst fears were confirmed by the medic who attended to him.” Mukandi said the events were still playing on his mind.
“It affected me a lot and for the rest of the game. I wasn’t my usual self,” said the ‘keeper.
“I tried hard to apologise to Roddy and to Hwange as a team and I even went to their changing room after the game. I got his number and tried to phone him after the game but his number was not available. So I visited him at the Avenues Clinic yesterday (Sunday) and brought him a token of my apology.
“Roddy accepted my apology and even tried to assure me that such things happen in football. It pained me a lot because I had never met him personally before. I only read about him in the newspapers and it’s sad that we had to meet that way for the first time.”
On Saturday evening, just hours after the match, Mukandi wrote on his Facebook page:
“GLOOMY DAY I WILL NEVER FORGET! . . . My apology to Rody, Wankie FC, its supporters, Chinyengetere family & the Zimbabwe soccer fraternity @ large, for the unintentional collision that saw Rody fracturing his shinbone. Get well soon Rody. Wish you a speedy recovery. Praying for you bro.”
Medical tests at the hospital revealed that Chinyengetere had broken his tibia in two places and was set to be operated on yesterday.
Hwange secretary, Burzil Dube, said they have been advised that Chinyengetere will be out of action for at least two months.
Warriors’ team manager Nyika Chifamba said the injury to Chinyengetere was a huge blow for them ahead of the trip to Angola.
National team coach, Rahman Gumbo, is set to name his squad for the Angola match today.
Chinyenyetere’s teammate in the Warriors, Abbas Amidu, yesterday led a passionate prayer for the Hwange forward on the social media sites. “Get well Roddie Chinyengetere, we still need you to play, we will never surrender to pray for you,” wrote Amidu on his Facebook page.
Chifamba said the technical team will now look at other options as Zimbabwe seek to defend their 3-1 win from the first leg in Harare. “The squad has not been selected but obviously he was likely to be one of the players needed by the coach,” Chifamba said.
Online Reporter