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Musona’s team facing relegation danger

Sport
Al Tai, which had drawn 1-1 at home against Al Taawon in the previous match, were hoping to step up against Abha but a goal by Serbian international Uros Matic towards the end of the first half, left them exposed as they are just two points above the relegation cut off

BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

WARRIORS captain Knowledge Musona ’s Saudi Arabia club Al Tai could bid farewell to the country’s Pro league by the end of the campaign after its1-0 defeat to Abha last weekend left it closer to the murky waters of relegation.

Al Tai, which had drawn 1-1 at home against Al Taawon in the previous match, were hoping to step up against Abha but a goal by Serbian international Uros Matic towards the end of the first half, left them exposed as they are just two points above the relegation cut off.

Although there is still plenty to fight for with seven games remaining after 23 rounds of matches, it’s not really looking good for the Zimbabwean international and his team. He played the entire match, but he could do nothing to rescue his side and in the end had to take the defeat.

Al Tai are on 10th position from the bottom having collected 26 points from 23 matches thus far and trail log leaders Al Ittihad by 28 points. A rung below them is Al Ahli on 25 points,  Al Taawon (24 points), Al Faisly (24 points), Al Ittifaqu (23 points), Al Batin (22 points) while Al Haz are at the foot of the table with a paltry 14 points.

Musona had halted his team’s dismal run upon returning from the African Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon with a fabulous display that saw him providing two assists and earned him the man of the match in a 3-1 victory over Al Batin. It was their first win following a dreadful spate of poor results that threatened their premier league status.

However, the inconsistency which has seen them win just two matches in the last five, could consign them to the second-tier next season.

Reports at the biennial tournament in Cameroon in January suggested the Warriors captain would call time on his international football career and concentrate on club football. However, Musona is yet to make an official statement with respect to his future with the national team.

Zimbabwe, though, has been suspended from the international football family by world soccer governing body Fédération Internationale de Football Association due to government interference after the Sports and Recreation Commission suspended the Zifa board, ostensibly to cleanse local football.

  • Follow Tawanda on Twitter @tafitawa

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