BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
THERE was relief in the Warriors camp yesterday after all, but one of the players who tested positive for Covid-19 about a fortnight ago managed to recover following another round of tests on Friday, as preparations for the Chan finals resumed at the National Sports Stadium B Arena.
The Warriors are set to make a fifth appearance at the continental championships reserved for locally-based players which kicks-off in Cameroon next Saturday.
But the Warriors have not had proper preparations while nine players and five officials, including coach Zdravko Logarusic, tested positive for coronavirus soon after the Christmas break.
Another official reportedly returned a positive test last week to bring the total number of active cases in the Warriors camp to 15.
Logarusic and his men went into camp at the beginning of last month with an enlarged squad and played a number of friendly matches with local clubs before breaking for the Christmas holiday.
Camp resumed on December 28, but unfortunately the programme was ruined after the majority of the players and staff tested positive for Covid-19.
The members of the national team in question were retested on Friday and the results came out yesterday.
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“The Zimbabwe Football Association [Zifa] is delighted to inform the football fraternity and the nation at large that the 15 members of the Warriors’ Chan team that had previously tested positive for Covid-19 have all tested negative save for one in the re-tests conducted on January 8, 2021,” the local football governing body said in a statement.
“The player that re-tested positive for Covid-19 will continue self-isolating while in camp, awaiting another test on January 12, 2021. The technical team and the 22 players declared Covid-19-free will now resume training ahead of their departure for Cameroon on January 13, 2021.”
The Warriors are set to leave the country on Wednesday and will play the tournament’s opening tie against the hosts Cameroon on Saturday.
Drawn in Group A, the Warriors will also play Burkina Faso and Mali.
But having lost so much time, the Warriors are looking to make the most of the remaining time while also employing stricter conditions to protect the team from new infections.
“Zifa would like to assure the public that we will adhere to CAF, Fifa and SRC [Sports and Recreation Commission] medical protocols before, during and after the tournament in order to mitigate the spread of the virus,” the soccer governing body said.
“The association would like to thank all stakeholders for their patience and support during the dark period which severely hampered our team’s preparations.
“We are confident that every member of the team will be motivated by these new progressive developments to be victorious on the pitch.
“All stakeholders are reminded that Warriors’ training sessions are restricted to only authorised personnel. Zifa appeals to all stakeholders to remain vigilant in the face of a renewed Covid-19 threat,” the statement said.
Training resumed yesterday afternoon at the National Sports Stadium.
According to the manager of the national team Wellington Mpandare, the squad is in high spirits as final preparations go full throttle.
“Training resumed today [yesterday], everyone is excited to start training and we have to make the most of the little time we have left to prepare. The coach and his technical team are relishing the challenge that lies ahead. We wish speedy recovery to the one player who tested positive and we hope he will be part of the team when we leave,” Mpandare said.
Ten players — namely Devon Chafa, Nqobizitha Masuku, Tymon Mvula, Diro Nyenye, Frank Mukarati, Ishmael Wadi, Tichaona Chipunza, Thomas Chideu, Phineas Bamusi and Jeansmith Mutudza — had been on standby in case some players failed to recover. Warriors Chan squad Goalkeepers: Ariel Sibanda (Highlanders), Simba Chinani (Dynamos), Nelson Chadya (Ngezi) Defenders: Peter Muduwa (Highlanders), Partson Jaure (Dynamos), Tafadzwa Jaravani (CAPS Utd), Ian Nekati (Chicken Inn), Qadr Amini (Ngezi), Carlos Mavhurume (CAPS Utd), Pawell Govere (Golden Eagles), Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders), Talent Chamboko (Manica Diamonds) Midfielders: Richard Hachiro (CAPS Utd), Ronald Chitiyo (CAPS Utd), Gabriel Nyahwa (Bulawayo Chiefs), Wellington Taderera (Ngezi), Leeroy Mavunga (CAPS Utd), Tatenda Tavengwa (Harare City), King Nadolo (Dynamos), Denver Mukamba (Ngezi) Strikers: Obriel Chirinda (Chicken Inn), Tawanda Nyamandwe (Manica Diamonds), Farawo Matare (Bulawayo Chiefs).
