CAPS United defender Hardlife Zvirekwi could be asked to step up and shoulder the huge responsibility of wearing the armband and lead the Warriors at the 2016 African Nations Championship (Chan) tournament in the event that skipper Danny “Deco” Phiri fails to shake off an ankle injury that has rendered him doubtful for the finals.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
Deco sustained a knock during the Easycall Cup final pitting his club Chicken Inn and Highlanders.
Despite having been given rest by coach Kalisto Pasuwa, who has been trying to manage the player following a grueling campaign in which he led the Bulawayo side to their maiden championship, beating Dynamos to the coveted trophy, he failed to finish a training session on Monday because of injury.
He also sat out of yesterday’s training session although there is still slim hope he would recover in time and make it to the tournament to be held in Kigali, Rwanda.
Team doctor Soman Mudariki said he would reassess the player to see if he could make it to Rwanda.
He, however, said Deco was making progress in his recovery.
“He is doing well and we are monitoring him. We will have to reassess him and then come up with a position,” Mudariki said.
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Zifa spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said a decision on the future of the player will be announced in due course.
“The doctor is still attending to him and the final decision will be announced in due course,” he said.
However, should Deco fail to make the cut due to injury, Zvirekwi who is vice-captain is expected to lead the Warriors.
Zvirekwi – an experienced and versatile player – is one of the two surviving players from those that took part at the last Chan edition held in South Africa together with Deco.
That squad under the guidance of Ian Gorowa with Pasuwa as his assistant, defied the odds against them to reach the last four of the tournament, the first team to manage that feat since the inauguration of the tournament four years ago.
And the Caps United star defender was one of the outstanding players at the tournament, but was not lucky enough to secure a contract in South Africa where his teammates who include Partson Jaure, Milton Ncube and Simba Sithole, among others ended up playing.
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 have appeared at every edition of the tournament since its inauguration.
The current squad will be seeking to surpass the achievements of the class of 2014 which was knocked out at the semi-final stage.
