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WARRIORS left-back Divine Lunga says he was still in excruciating pain yesterday after he suffered ligament damage to his knee during the CHAN first round qualifier against Comoros at Rufaro on Sunday.
The 20-year-old Chicken Inn defender had a nightmarish debut to his international career when he twisted his knee while trying to make a clearance from a corner kick.
He was also abandoned by ZIFA until yesterday when members of the Warriors technical team stormed the ZIFA offices to push for his treatment.
His teammates, mainly from Bulawayo, refused to leave ZIFA House until Lunga had been treated.
Lunga was then taken for an MRI scan in the afternoon and it was established that he had two cracks on his leg which needed medication. He will be out of action for, at least three weeks, to recover fully from the injury.
“The pain is still unbearable,” he said.
“The doctor detected two cracks on the knee area and I was told to get a rest for at least three weeks.
“It’s my hope that it will heal quickly and, definitely, I will not rush to come back onto the field of play.
“Probably, I will have to rest for even longer, up to six weeks, depending on how I feel so that I don’t aggravate the injury.
“Right now I am leaving for Bulawayo. I have been assured that I will get my medication from there.”
Warriors team manager Sharif Mussa said Lunga was being attended to with the assistance of the national team doctor, Solomon Mudariki.
Mussa said the situation was under control as he was taking care of the welfare of the player, who was flown to Bulawayo in the evening.
Mussa said they have been in communication with his club Chicken Inn, who will be monitoring his treatment in the next month.
“The situation is under control. Lunga was taken to the hospital and he will be assessed to see the extent of the injury.
“He has been taken for further assessment by our team doctor as of this (yesterday) morning and was to under-go some scans to see the extent of the injury,” said Mussa.
There was a mini-drama at the ZIFA offices as players from outside Harare yesterday staged a sit-in at the association’s offices to press for their dues.
The players said they could not go back to their bases empty-handed as they had not received money from the association.
Players were milling around the premises when The Herald crew arrived.
ZIFA promised the players $30 a day in allowances for the days they were in camp and $100 in match fees.
“The players are not stranded and they will be leaving anytime soon. They had to sort out a few issues with the secretariat and I am sure they will be on their way soon,” said Mussa.
Online Reporter