Let’s all pray for Mukamba

Dynamos outfit that is fighting to defend their championship and Mbada Diamonds Cup titles and his sublime skills have made him a hero with the Glamour Boys’ fans.
Dynamos, with 49 points, now enjoy a two-point lead over nearest rivals Highlanders, thanks largely to a rejuvenated Mukamba who has put behind the disappointment of failing to land a deal at South African Premiership side Bidvest Wits in June to turn on some magical performances for the Harare giants.
But away from the glamour and glory on the pitch, Mukamba has been praying hard that his asthma, which Warriors doctor Nicholas Munyonga described as a moderate reversible airway obstruction, can continue to be managed.
Mukamba would also need the strong prayers from a nation that is crazy about its football and would want to see Dynamos and the Warriors achieve glory on the international stage.
This is because should Mukamba’s condition take a turn for the worse, he may have to stop playing football while undergoing medication as some of the medicines used to reverse the airway obstruction have substances that are banned by Fifa and the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Munyonga, who is also a member of Wada, this week told The Herald that he diagnosed Mukamba’s condition while carrying out medical tests on all players who were in the Warriors’ camp ahead of their final Nations Cup first leg qualifier against Angola at Rufaro.
It also emerged that the doctor had earlier noted with concern that Mukamba either fizzled out towards the there.
The Wits medical are likely to have picked out Mukamba’s condition and, while he still could have been signed and put on treatment, they must have decided not to take the risk.
Munyonga, however, allayed fears that Mukamba is in grave danger at the moment but also warned that there was a risk that should there be a severe attack, it could result in the player collapsing on the pitch.
Refreshingly for Mukamba, Munyonga said, the midfielder has appeared to be doing well since he started using an inhaler which the affable doctor ordered for him from South Africa on the eve of the Warriors match.
The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee medical commissioner indicated that the player’s daily dosage of exercises was also helping keep him out of danger.
“At the moment I think the worst fears have been allayed by the fact that we have been able to pick the problem and he is now on medication.
“We want to see the effect of the medicine he is now taking then we will re-examine him at the end of this month.
“While we were carrying out the tests that we do on the national team players during camp, we diagnosed him to have moderate reversible airway obstruction  and even from his own submissions he conceded that he was having severe chest pains every time he plays or trains coupled with shortness of breath at times.
“He also suffers from severe tiredness and at times his heart would beat fast. We have discussed with him and he fully understands his situation now that he even feels for others who might be having a similar problem but may have not been diagnosed,’’ Munyonga said.
Munyonga also spoke about the restrictions imposed by Wada on medicines used to treat athletes with Mukamba’s condition.
“Most of the medications used to treat this condition warrant the use of banned substances but we have managed to use an inhaler which is no longer prohibited since January 2012.
“But if the condition is to get any worse we would have to go the route of that medication which means he would have to stop playing while on that medication’’.
That is where Mukamba needs the nation’s prayers’ most given that a long absence from the game could affect his career.
Mukamba was a virtual unknown before arriving at Dynamos from Kiglon.
Munyonga was also happy to note that the climactic conditions in Zimbabwe and Southern Africa were more conducive for a player like Mukamba as they did not have extreme factors that were likely to affect the midfielder’s breathing during a game.
“Climatic conditions are trigger factors that are likely to affect him but exercise or physical conditioning also helps one to be on top of the situation in terms of control against dust, wind or cold temperatures.
“By and large our climatic conditions are not on the extreme . . . we don’t have very cold, very hot or humid conditions mostly in Southern Africa’’.
Although he offered a lot of hope that Mukamba was not in danger, at least for now, Munyonga insisted the pencil-slim midfielder would need to also work harder to improve his fitness levels and nutrition.
“Of note is that he needs to improve his fitness levels and his nutrition. He could not push his fitness because of his chest problems but now that he knows all about his situation, he can only get better.
“If you have that condition and it is not well controlled, literature has it on good record that you can collapse and die on the field of play in the worst case scenario’’.
Munyonga also said the diagnosis on Mukamba, coming just months after the doctor had also discovered that veteran Motor Action goalkeeper Marlon Jani has a diabetic condition that is affecting his game, once again highlights the need for Zifa and the Premier Soccer League to toughen their requirements on clubs having qualified medical personnel in their ranks.
“I believe that a team should only be licensed to play in the PSL or Division One if they have a qualified doctor and a physiotherapist.
“After all, having such people only adds value to our football and it does not cost much so let’s try to avert danger by being as alert as possible,’’ Munyonga said.
But, for now, Mukamba will shift his attention to helping Dynamos begin the defence of their Mbada Diamonds title with a clash against Quelaton at Rufaro on Sunday.