Mighty Warrior plays in pain as surgery delay puts career at risk

BETHEL KONDO is playing through pain, and every match now carries a risk her body can no longer ignore.

The 19-year-old Mighty Warriors forward has been turning out for club and country with metal implants still lodged in her leg, a year after doctors recommended their removal.

She cannot afford the surgery.

Kondo, who featured in four of Zimbabwe’s five matches at the recent Cosafa tournament, has been pushing through despite medical warnings that the inserts are now a hazard.

The implants, two plates and a rod fitted after a serious fracture in 2023, were meant to be removed early last year. That timeline has long passed.

“I have no choice for now,” Kondo said. “I cannot afford the surgery and I also cannot stay at home. Football is not just what I do, it is how I survive and support my family.”

Her return to the pitch itself was a fight.

After two years out, she had to rebuild from scratch, first shedding weight, then working her way back to match fitness. Within weeks of her comeback, she caught the eye of Herentals, who moved quickly to bring her in on a six-month loan from Faith Drive.

She did not just settle; she played every game in their Caf Women’s Champions League campaign.
That run forced her into national team contention. By December, she was part of the young group ushered into the Mighty Warriors setup under coach Sithethelelwe Sibanda during a rebuilding phase.

She has held her place since, even as her condition lingers in the background.

“My situation affects me mentally,” she admitted. “Sometimes I hold back because I am thinking about the leg. I cannot give everything, and I know I need the surgery urgently.”

The cost is beyond her reach. The procedure is estimated at US$3 000.

In a local women’s game still struggling for funding, players often operate without medical cover or meaningful financial support. For Kondo, that reality has left her relying on well-wishers.

“I just hope someone can help,” she said. “The doctors said the inserts are now dangerous.”
Medical practitioner and physiotherapist Marylin Ndlovu confirmed the risk.

“When removal is delayed, the implants can lead to infections, tissue damage and chronic pain,” she said. “In active athletes, there is also the risk of fatigue or breakage, which can complicate future surgery and cause further injury.”

Back at her parent club, the concern is just as heavy.

Faith Drive founder Mbuya Nelia Musikavana said they have accepted responsibility for Kondo’s welfare but lack the means to act.

“The situation is painful,” she said. “She is in danger and we are doing everything we can to find help, but the club is struggling financially. Even the children’s home is facing serious challenges.”

For now, Kondo keeps playing.
Each appearance is a reminder of both her promise and the system around her, one that can lift a young talent onto the international stage but still leave her exposed when it matters most.