Musona out as Darikwa considers future

Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter

WARRIORS captain, Knowledge Musona, will miss the remainder of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Ethiopia next month, due to injury.

The 31-year-old forward has been battling a hamstring strain since last week.

He missed his Saudi Arabian club, Al Tai’s last home game, due to the knock.

Warriors team manager, Wellington Mpandare, yesterday said he has been in touch with Musona and his club, who have delivered the bad news, from the medical team.

“Knowledge is definitely out of these games. He suffered a hamstring injury during training last week.

“I have been talking to him and he said the doctors gave him 10-14 days for recovery.

“This means by the time he comes back, it will be late for him to start training and regain the required fitness,” said Mpandare.

Zimbabwe are scheduled to travel to South Africa, before hosting Ethiopia at the National Sports Stadium, next month, to wrap up a largely disappointing campaign.

Apart from Musona’s injury blow, they are also set to miss key players in defence, as the injury curse continues to bite deep, into the Warriors camp.

United States-based centreback, Teenage Hadebe, is the latest casualty after picking up an ankle knock, which has sidelined him from Major League Soccer side, Houston Dynamo’s last two league assignments.

Remarkably, Hadebe had played every minute of action, since he joined Dynamo in July, until the injury blow struck.

The Warriors defender had started 17 games and was substituted for the first time, when his team beat Seattle Sounders 2-1, two weeks ago.

This will mean Warriors interim coach, Norman Mapeza, will need to work on a new defensive pairing, when Zimbabwe play against South Africa, and Ethiopia.

France-based utility man, Marshall Munetsi, who was injured on national duty during the last qualifiers against Ghana, is yet to recover fully.

Munetsi picked up a hamstring injury during the Warriors away game in Ghana, and had to sit out the return fixture, at the National Sports Stadium.

The other central defender Alec Mudimu is suspended for the upcoming game against South Africa, after accumulating two yellow cards.

“It’s unfortunate, Knowledge is not the only worry we have at the moment,” said Mpandare.

“Teenage Hadebe is also down with an ankle injury.

“He was injured in his first Major League Soccer game for Houston, soon after playing for Zimbabwe, at the last World Cup qualifiers.

“So, he will definitely miss the game against South Africa.

“We have been looking at the chances for the next game against Ethiopia but the chances are very slim.

“Remember, after recovering, a player would need time to train, and regain match fitness.

“The doctors have advised that it’s not prudent to rush a player into action soon after recovering from an injury.’’

He said that was the same story with Munetsi.

“It’s the same thing with Munetsi. He is still out with that (hamstring) injury but we understand he has started rehabilitation,’’ said Mpandare.

“So, most of our central defenders will not be available, considering that Mudimu is also sitting on a suspension.”

Fullback Tendayi Darikwa, who withdrew from the squad ahead of the return leg against Ghana earlier this month, is also another big doubt.

The England-based defender has cited pressing family challenges although sources in England suggest the 29-year-old could be reconsidering his international career.

Darikwa is not happy with the way the Warriors are treated and, in particular, the hard pitches they are given for their preparations.

He also feels the senior national team is not being given the tools for them to succeed and play to their potential.

The Warriors, who have since bowed out of the running for a place at the 2022 World Cup, are still hoping to fight for their pride.

The Warriors are bottom of Group G, with one point, from four starts.

They play South Africa away, tentatively on November 11, before hosting Ethiopia in the final match of the qualifiers, a few days later.

In the absence of Musona, midfielder Khama Billiat is likely to take the captain’s arm-band.

The captaincy hierarchy, in previous assignments, has had Musona at the top, followed by Ovidy Karuru, Billiat, Mudimu and Darikwa.

“That has been the hierarchy in previous campaigns but it’s something that we will need to discuss,’’ said Mpandare.

“But, right now, the focus is on the team selection.

“We have done the usual invitation letters and we are monitoring how the clubs and the players will be responding.

“We are following the process, there are new players who have been invited as well, and once everything is in place, the announcement will be made.”