THE Warriors were left facing a goalkeeping crisis yesterday ahead of their return leg of the African Nations Championships (Chan) qualifier away to the Comoros on Saturday after Dynamos withdrew Tatenda Mukuruva leaving Bernard Donovan as the only goalminder available.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
Mukuruva had joined the Warriors in training at Rufaro on Tuesday, without the blessings of his club Dynamos who insist they want him for their league clash against Hwange at the Colliery on Sunday. Warriors coach Kalisto Pasuwa had been banking on How Mine goalkeeper Bernard Donovan and Harare City’s Tatenda Munditi whom he had initially called up but following reports that he was injured, the coach was pinning hopes on Mukuruva who however has been withdrawn.
With Hwange also preparing for the league clash against Dynamos, the coal miners could also not release Takabva Mawaya. The Warriors gaffer was forced to train with a makeshift goalkeeper from DC Academy as he had been left with Donovan as the only goalkeeper.
“Tatenda Mukuruva has been withdrawn by his club. We have also been trying to get Takabva Mawaya from Hwange without success but we have requested Caps United for Chris Mverechena. There is one goalkeeper from DC Academy we have trained with today,” said Pasuwa after the team’s morning training session at Gwanzura.
However, team captain Danny Phiri remains confident of succeeding in Comoros but warned his team mates against complacency.
“We shouldn’t underrate them. They are a solid team and difficult to break down. We need to score more goals. Morale is high in camp and everyone is looking forward to the game,” said Phiri.
Meanwhile, Hwange’s Pritchard Mpelele remains a major doubt for the trip to the Comoros as he skipped yesterday’s training session having missed the first day of training due to illness. Also likely to miss the trip to the Comoros is FC Platinum forward Emmanuel Mandiranga who limped off during training after picking a knock and was set to be assessed by the team doctor.
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“Pritchard has not trained again today. His condition appears to be getting worse and Mandiranga has also picked a knock and he will be assessed by the doctor,” said Pasuwa.
“We would have preferred to go with the same players who played in the first leg, but some of them have gone for trials and we face a challenge in that some of them are not playing regularly for their respective clubs and I am a bit worried by their fitness level. The government was by yesterday still making frantic efforts to secure a chartered flight for the national team. Zifa has been charged $114 900 by Air Zimbabwe if they leave tomorrow and return on Sunday.
They have been quoted $83 000 if they depart on Friday and return 24 hours after the match.
