adminplays for Terek Grozny, had a nightmarish return to the Warriors in their 2013 African Cup of Nations first round, first leg tie against Burundi in Bujumbura on February 29.
The lanky former Highlanders and Motor Action striker had been absent from the senior team duties for eight years, having last featured for the Warriors in a Nations Cup and World Cup qualifier against Rwanda in Kigali in July 2004.
Mguni, handed a chance to revive his career by coach Rahman Gumbo, suffered a heartbreak in Bujumbura when his Warriors return lasted just 38 minutes.
He twisted his knee after coming worse off in a mid-air tussle for possession with Burundi skipper and defender Valery Nahayo and was to be replaced by Platinum Stars striker Terence Mandaza. Although he had remained courageous and optimistic after the game, his fears on the severity of the injury were confirmed when Mguni returned to his base in Russia.
He was told that he had damaged some ligaments and would be out for the remainder of the season.
That means that Mguni will miss the Warriors opening World Cup qualifiers against Guinea at home on June 3 and Mozambique in Maputo the following weekend.
He will also watch from a distance when the Warriors seek to overturn the 2-1 deficit they incurred against the Swallows when Burundi visit Rufaro on June 24. Mguni is now scheduled to undergo rehabilitation in Germany as part of his recovery process and can only hope to bounce back to the senior team in September when their
World Cup qualifying campaign resumes.
But the 26-year-old striker, who has played in Cyprus and Ukraine, is not amused that no-one from the Warriors camp made a follow-up on him since the tour of Burundi as he has had to battle for his recovery while turning his focus on next season.
Mguni also revealed that he was still finding it tough to adjust to playing on artificial turf, adding that the pitch in Bujumbura had not helped his plight either.
“I haven’t recovered since (Burundi) and I am preparing to go to Germany for rehabilitation. Maybe they (the doctors) might advise on an operation so fingers crossed for this one.
“It’s terrible I have to get used to synthetic stadiums I have suffered enough and it is disappointing that I have cater for my own medication even though my club have been supportive.
“I just feel betrayed by my own country men because not even a message to find out about my situation . . . just shows how ignorant our people are and I am saying it with a big grin on my face, otherwise other than that I am ready for the next season,’’ Mguni said.
As Mguni spoke of his misery after an injury incurred while on national duty, the matter will also come under the spotlight in Cairo, Egypt this week when general secretaries of national associations converge for a Confederation of African Football seminar.
Zifa chief executive, Jonathan Mashingaidze, who is representing Zimbabwe at the seminar, noted that African football is battling with the problem of player insurance which was hampering some national teams.
“It is important too for Caf to discuss and come up with a template on issues to do with injuries on the pitch and we have had cases of lack of insurance cover for African players when they are turning out for their national teams.
Mguni is the latest in a long list of players to have suffered injury while on national duty that has forced him into a rethink about turning out for his motherland.
Online Reporter