Coach Rahman Gumbo’s Warriors attacking options have again been narrowed after Romania-based forward, Mike Temwanjira, has been ruled out of Sunday’s crucial Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier final round, first leg against Angola with a calf injury.
Report by Michael Madyira The match has been moved to Rufaro.
While Gumbo was still celebrating Germany-based striker Knowledge Musona’s patriotic decision to return to the Warriors fold, the gaffer is facing a fresh conundrum of searching for Temwanjira’s fitting replacement.
Also on the sidelines is goalkeeper and captain Tapuwa Kapini, who sustained an ankle injury while training with his South African club AmaZulu early last month.
Gumbo is now left with Musona, Orlando Pirates’ Takesure Chinyama and the local-based trio of Rodwell Chinyengetere, Nelson Mazivisa and Donald Ngoma to pick his frontrunners from.
Temwanjira injured his calf muscle in July during a pre-season training camp in Austria with Vaslui and has not featured for his club this season.
The 30-year-old former CAPS United gunman told Standardsport from his Romania base that he was saddened that his long-awaited Warriors return had failed.
“I do not think I am still coming because I am currently under rehabilitation. Right now I am waiting for my club doctors to have a final assessment on me,” said Temwanjira.
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“It is very painful that I have been injured at a time when I am needed in the national team. What makes it more painful is that it has been long since I last played for the Warriors.”
The big striker last received a Warriors call-up under Brazilian coach Valinhos in 2008 during the 2010 World Cup and Afcon joint qualifiers against Namibia, although he did not play after pulling his muscle at training.
Having been a prominent member of junior national teams, Temwanjira has just three Warriors caps under his belt, albeit international friendlies matches including the one against Zambia in December 2005 when he was pulled off by Charles Mhlauri after just 11 minutes having been introduced as a substitute.
Warriors manager Nyika Chifamba confirmed Temwanjira’s unavailability with team doctor Nick Munyonga also confirming the injury.
“I have just heard that Mike is injured but I have not yet communicated with him. I have been trying to get hold of him but all in vain,” said Munyonga. “I am also yet to receive communication from his club concerning his injury.
We want him to come so we have our own assessment on him. I am also expecting an official correspondence from AmaZulu on Monday to clearly define the nature of Kapini’s injury but I have been in touch with him though. We again want to assess him.”
Kapini, who went for a scan last Thursday, cast a dark cloud over his availability.
“Chances of me playing are very slim. I am waiting for another check-up on Tuesday before my club doctor releases me. It is bad news for me,” said Kapini. The rest of the Warriors are expected to start trooping in camp tomorrow.
