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Kapini back ahead of schedule

Sport
ZIMBABWE senior men national football team and Amazulu captain Tapuwa Kapini returned to action yesterday after almost two months on the sidelines through injury.

ZIMBABWE senior men national football team and Amazulu captain Tapuwa Kapini returned to action yesterday after almost two months on the sidelines through injury.

Report by Henry Mhara

The goalkeeper, who underwent surgery after aggravating an ankle injury in an international match against Angola in September, was initially expected to return in February.

However, the former Highlanders goalkeeper was in Amazulu’s starting line-up and played the full match in a South African Premiership contest against Tinashe Nengomasha’s Bidvest yesterday.

The match ended in a 1-all draw with Carlington Nyadombo scoring Amazulu’s goal, converting from the penalty spot.

Speaking to NewsDaySport last night, Kapini said he was feeling 100 percent fit.

“It feels good to be back,” said Kapini. “I played the whole match and I’m not feeling any pain. I should thank the medical team at Amazulu and the Almighty God for the good work they did. At first I was told I would start playing again next year, but I worked hard at training and it has worked wonders for me. I could feel I was ready to play at the start of the week so I asked the coach if I could play, and after an assessment by the medical team, I was given the green light to play today (yesterday). I didn’t think I would start the match though, but thank God the coach has so much trust in me,” said Kapini.

The 28-year-old Kapini, who missed the Warriors’ 2-0 defeat to Angola, a result that put paid to Zimbabwe’s chances of qualifying for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, last month hinted on retiring from international football.

Yesterday he backtracked saying it was an “emotional reaction” to what was happening in Zimbabwean football at the time.

“There was a lot happening at the time. The Asiagate thing and the team failing to qualify, there was a lot happening. I made the comment out of emotions. I have served my country with pride since 2001 and I’m still available if the new national team coach (Klaus Pagels) decides to pick me for future national team duties,” said Kapini.