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Harare Bureau
ZIFA have dismissed as mere speculation, word doing rounds on the social media platforms that the Warriors are facing possible elimination from the African Nations Championship finals in South African next year.The unconfirmed reports yesterday suggested that the Warriors could be booted out after they used an ineligible player during the competition’s qualifiers.
Zimbabwe, who have been to the previous two editions of the CHAN finals started their campaign in the first round where they knocked out Mauritius following a 4-1 aggregate win before their sensational victory over Zambia at the weekend.
It had appeared all gloomy for Ian Gorowa’s charges when they were held to a goalless draw at Rufaro but they made history when they became the first team to beat Chipolopolo since they adopted Levy Mwanasawa Stadium as their home 14 months ago.
FC Platinum midfielder Charles Sibanda struck the priceless goal in the second half to propel Zimbabwe to their third CHAN finals, but the nation was panicky yesterday following reports that the Warriors might not be going to the finals after all.
But Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela quickly rubbished the speculation and pointed out that the Warriors have not been notified of any sanctions from the Confederation of African Football.
Gwesela said only two players have been cited as having received yellow cards and no one was expelled during these CHAN qualifiers.
He also watered down claims that Devon Chafa was also in the eye of a storm after a prohibited substance was found in his system after a World Cup qualifier in July and was therefore banned from football.
“According to the official correspondence we have from CAF, we have one player Eric Chipeta who received a yellow card for an A offence during the match in Curepipe.
“For the match against Zambia at Rufaro, only Masimba Mambare was cautioned and again this was classified as an A offence,” said Gwesela.
Under the rules, an A offence, “means unsporting behaviour such as foul play, dangerous play, or holding on to an opponents’ shirt or any part of his body.”
Gwesela said it was wishful thinking from people who do not have confidence in the Warriors that they have been booted out of CHAN by Caf.
“So for the whole CHAN, we only accrued two yellow cards and no player received three consecutive yellow cards. I have heard people claiming that we are unlikely to go for the CHAN finals but, those are outrageous falsehoods.
“They are just claims without any substance and we condemn the unpatriotic behavior from people who are bent on tarnishing the image of Zifa and the Warriors. As we know, the Warriors are proceeding to South Africa and they have done the nation proud,” said Gwesela.
Gwasela also pointed out that the speculation could have came from the fact that defensive linkman Devon Chafa failed a doping test during after the match against Egypt at the National Sports Stadium after the World Cup, Group G, African qualifier in July.
According to a report dated 17 July of a random anti-doping test conducted on Chafa, the Dynamos midfielder was found to have traces of a prohibited substance. “After Fifa found the traces of the prohibited substance in Chafa, they requested our team doctor Nick Munyonga to further look into the issue on how the substance was found in the player’s system.
“Munyonga then inquired from the player and his family doctor and was told that the substance came from the medication that Chafa was taking.
“Munyonga wrote to Fifa chief medical officer Prof Jiri Dvorakrak and advised him that he had verified about the substance and found that Chafa had taken it as medication.
Online Reporter