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Danny ‘Deco’ doubtful

Sport
WARRIORS captain Danny “Deco” Phiri has emerged doubtful to make the trip to Kigali, Rwanda, for the African Nations Championship (Chan) tournament scheduled for next year in January, owing to injury.

WARRIORS captain Danny “Deco” Phiri has emerged doubtful to make the trip to Kigali, Rwanda, for the African Nations Championship (Chan) tournament scheduled for next year in January, owing to injury.

BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

The reigning Zimbabwe Castle Lager Footballer of the Year who guided his club, Chicken Inn, to their maiden championship this season is struggling with a swollen ankle and failed to finish the training session conducted yesterday morning and also sat out the afternoon training session.

Warriors coach Kalisto Pasuwa said his captain was now doubtful to make it to Rwanda.

The results of a scan carried out yesterday on the ankle will put the matter to rest today but he could be sent back home.

“Danny has a swollen knee. He couldn’t finish training in the morning. He had a scan and we are now waiting for a report from the doctor. The doctor’s report will guide us on whether he should continue with training or we send him back home,” Pasuwa said.

Warriors during their afternoon training session at Gateway school yesterday

The Warriors coach also revealed that Highlanders defender Teenage Hadebe had been excused from camp to attend to his sick mother and is also another doubt to make it to the tournament.

Goalkeeper Takabva Mawaya is also in the treatment room, carrying a shoulder injury and needs further assessments by the doctor to ascertain the extent of the injury.

“We have also excused Teenage Hadebe after he told us he wanted to attend to his sick mother and Takabva Mawaya who has a shoulder injury. Last time when we called him up for the Under-23 he had the same problem and it appears it has resurfaced again. He will need further assessment by the doctor,” Pasuwa added.

The Warriors coach also said they would continue to assess the fitness level of some of the players, as he suspected they could be carrying injuries but were not being honesty.

“We will have to continue to assess some of the players because I know that some of them might be injured but are not honest about it because they just want to go to the tournament. I have been a player before and I know that players do that,” he said.

The break last week compounded the problems, as the technical team needs to continue assessing the players’ fitness level. “It’s like we are starting all over again after breaking for seven days. So we need continuous assessments of the fitness level of the players,” Pasuwa said.

The Chan tournament, designed exclusively for home-based players, kicks off in Rwanda from January 16 to February 7.

The Warriors, who are in Group D together with perennial rivals Zambia, West Africans Mali and East African football kings Uganda, will be based in the border town of Gisenyi.

Zimbabwe has featured at every tournament since its inauguration four years ago. They finished in the last four at the last edition held in South Africa.