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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S Warriors are keeping their fingers crossed, over the availability of their United Kingdom–based players, for the back-to-back World Cup qualifiers against Ghana, in a fortnight.
National teams’ general manager, Wellington Mpandare, yesterday said they were banking hopes on the engagements between FIFA and the UK government aimed at relaxing travel arrangements for the players travelling to the countries on their British red-list.
“From our understanding, FIFA have been engaging the British government over this issue but they have not said anything yet. We are still hoping that the thorny issues will be ironed out because these issues are affecting football, even in the big countries, like Brazil and Argentina.
“So, it’s an issue that is still being considered and we have to remain positive.”
Zimbabwe were unable to get about 10 players, from the United Kingdom and America, when they played South Africa and Ethiopia, in the opening matches of Group G qualifiers.
Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba, in-form Bournemouth left-back Jordan Zemura, Tendayi Darikwa, Brendan Galloway, Admiral Muskwe and David Moyo failed to pitch up for the matches, against Bafana Bafana and Ethiopia.
The restrictions have seen a number of club versus country disputes.
However, FIFA revealed they were holding constructive talks with the English FA, the Premier League and the UK government, to allow the players to travel to red-listed countries, during the October international window. The talks were triggered after South American countries moved to invoke FIFA’s Article 5, to bar the English clubs, from selecting the players they didn’t release, for national duty.
Zimbabwe remains on the UK travel red-list while Ghana is on the amber.
This means new Warriors coach, Norman Mapeza, is likely to have his players for the away tie in West Africa, on October 9.
The returning UK-based players will not be subjected to the stringent quarantine protocols if they travel to Ghana.
But, the players will not be able to come home, for the return match at the National Sports Stadium, three days later.
However, this could all change.
“We have been talking to the clubs. They know our situation but there is nothing they can do at the moment,’’ said Mpandare.
“They are also waiting to hear the verdict and whether they will be given the greenlight to release the players.
“But, if push comes to shove, we are still pursuing the option to fly the UK-based players direct to Ghana, for them to play the first leg, since Ghana does not fall in the red-list, which require a mandatory 10-day quarantine. “They will leave soon after the game and we will have a Plan B for the return fixture in Harare.’’ Zambia had a similar arrangement for their World Cup qualifier against Mauritania, in Nouakchott, last month.
Chipolopolo won the match 2-1.
Enock Mwepu, who is on the books of English Premiership side, Brighton & Hove Albion, scored one of their two goals.
Patson Daka, the Leicester City forward, also featured in that game.
However, the duo did not fly home, for the match against Tunisia, a few days later.
In their absence, Chipolopolo crashed to a 0-2 defeat. The Warriors are looking to recover from a slow start, to their World Cup quest, after drawing at home with South Africa. They then lost 0-1, away to Ethiopia, leading to the dismissal of Croatian coach Zdravko Logarusic.
Both Ghana and the Warriors will be under the guidance of new coaches.
The Black Stars have woed Serbian gaffer, Milovan Rajevic, who guided them to a place at the quarter-finals at the 2010 World Cup, to return for another romance with the team. Zimbabwe currently occupy the last spot in Group G, with one point, and have appointed Norman Mapeza to revive the faltering campaign.
Online Reporter