Warriors Coach Sunday Chidzambwa
HARARE- Recurring injuries on players continue to impede progress on Warriors’ preparations ahead of their African Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo Brazzaville which has forced them to adjust their squad more frequent than usual.
The latest setback on the squad was the exclusion of Czech-based defender Costa Nhamoinesu adding to the existing list of injured players which includes midfielders Ovidy Karuru and Marvellous Nakamba.
Warriors’ team manager Wellington Mapandare on Wednesday revealed details of Nhamoinesu’s injury and said they have since replaced Nhamoinesu with Bloemfontein Celtic’s Ronald Pfumbidzai.
“Nhamoinesu suffered a partial thigh muscle rapture last Sunday while he was playing for his club in the Czech Republic which he lasted 80 minutes before being substituted,” said Mpandare.
Nhamoinesuwas advised to rest for two weeks before further tests can be conducted and Mpandare said he was disappointed that he will miss the crucial second AFCON qualifier.
“We wish him a speedy recovery and hopefully when he goes back to tests after two weeks his rehabilitation will start and hopefully he will be back fully fit for the back to back matches against Democratic Republic of Congo in October.
“We are making direct replacements and since we have lost two midfielders (Nakamba and Karuru) we have called up Liberty Chakaroma and Deco Phiri,” said Mpandare.
He also said these constant checks on players whom coach Sunday Chidzambwa wants, shows there will be a lot of changes because of the recurring injuries and said they have recalled the Golden Arrows pair of Knox Mutizwa and Danny Phiri.
Coach Sunday Chidzambwa said there was nothing he could do to avoid the injuries because players have to continue their respective club duties where they occurred but they are doing their best to replace them.
“There is nothing we can do but we are calling equally good players to replace the injured ones,” Chidzambwa said.
“If you are naming the squad, you expect those things to happen and should have a plan B but losing the two midfielders it was sort of a double blow because they play more or less the same,” he added.
The warriors will fly to Congo Brazzaville and are expected to arrive by September 3 so that the coach can have a few days of training with them for the September 9 clash.
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