CHINA-based striker Nyasha Mushekwi has undertaken to
personally pay the Warriors’ outstanding balances to avert a potentially
catastrophic abandonment of the Total Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
According to sources in the Zimbabwe camp, the former Caps
United forward, who has since been ruled out of the tournament even though he
trained last night, spoke to the players about the importance of fulfilling the
remaining match or matches as well as the damage that withdrawing will have on
the players’ future and the country’s image.
“Mushekwi said he was prepared to use his own funds and
asked that we rethink about our threat not to fulfill the DRC game on Sunday,”
said one of the players.
Zimbabwe head of delegation Farai Jere, while confirming
that there were issues over allowances for the players, said there was never a
suggestion to withdraw from the tournament.
He said the players will fulfill Sunday’s final Group A
match against the Democratic Republic of Congo, a game which the team has to
win to enhance their chances of making history by progressing to the knockout
stages of the Afcon finals.
“I want to assure the nation that we are going to play our
final group game on Sunday and are looking forward to a positive result. These
boys are aware of the impact that qualification will have on their footballing
careers but we are also cognisant that we don’t have to turn a blind eye to
their concerns, the association will always have an ear on issues to do with
the welfare of the team, we are a listening association,” said Jere.
Zimbabwe held their first training session at the El
sekka-el hadid SC last night after being given a day off on Thursday. There was
some enthusiasm from the coaches as Mushekwi also trained with the squad while
midfield rock Marvelous Nakamba and left back Devine Lunga sat it out due to
injury.
“Lunga has just had a scan and he is definitely out of the
Sunday game,” said Warriors team manager Wellington Mpandare.
Zimbabwe need an outright win over DRC tomorrow to stand a
chance of making it for the first time into the knockout stages of Afcon. They
can still finish as runners up in the event that The Pharaohs beat the Ugandan
Cranes while a win for Uganda and Zimbabwe will leave the latter’s
qualification to be decided by other groups’ final standings as they can still
qualify as one of the four third placed
teams. Chronicle
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