Warriors coach Norman Mapeza is worried about the injury to chief striker Knowledge Musona ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations home qualifier against Liberia on September 4.
Musona injured himself last Wednesday in training and could be out for three weeks, according to reports from his new German Bundesliga outfit Hoffeinhem.
His manager Holger Stanislawski remained optimistic scans will yield positive results.
“It’s extremely unfortunate. Knowledge had just come through his first few training sessions and was easing his way into the squad. Of course, we hope that after further scans the injury isn’t as serious as first thought,” the manager told the club’s official website. He was due for scans yesterday. The Warriors technical team is finalising the team as they want to keep tabs on various players, whose seasons have started in South Africa and Europe.
“We are finalising on that, but not naming the squad now; we are watching some players whose seasons have just started and looking at some issues.
”On Musona he said: “Obviously that’s disturbing news and that is one of the things I am talking about.” There are not likely to be many changes to the squad that faced Zambia in an international friendly match last Wednesday.
Ruled out due to suspension is striker Nyasha Mushekwi and defender Thomas Sweswe while club hunting Justice Majabvi’s future with the national team is also in doubt, at least for now. Veteran Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Esrom Nyandoro was in Bulawayo for family business and did not start the season with the rest of the team.
He was ignored for the last home clash against Mali in June. While the technical team has always maintained that doors are still open for him, it is becoming increasingly clear that Mapeza has no plans for the man who scored the best goal in the 2004 Afcon finals in Tunisia.
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The presence of new Kaizer Chiefs signing Willard Katsande and his excellent combination with Tinashe Nengomasha has not only shut out Nyandoro, but Majabvi as well. Eight local players were called in for the Zambia match-the FC Platinum quartet of impressive Charles Sibanda, Benjamin Marere, Daniel Vheremu and Under-23 international Lincoln Zvasiya, Caps United’s Tapiwa Khumbuyani, Highlanders’ Erick Mudzingwa, Gunners’ left-back Qadr Amini and Dynamos goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
Al Hilal hitman Edward Sadomba, Tapiwa Kapini — who recently signed for AmaZulu in a R1 million deal and was named captain, skipper Method Mwanjali, who turns out for Mamelodi Sundowns together with striker Simba Sithole, Nengomasha and the pair of Ajax Cape Town players Khama Billiat and Katsande are all expected to feature.
Belgian-based Vusa Nyoni, new Moroka Swallows signing Gilbert Mapemba, Quincy Antipas, who plies his trade in Denmark, and man-of-the-match in the game against Mali in June, US Boulogne’s Ovidy Karuru, are also expected for the Liberia match.
