By Tafadzwa Chigandiwa
France based duo of Tinotenda Kadewere and Marshal Munetsi are likely to be available for the Warriors last AFCON qualifier game against Zambia next week Monday, ZIFA spokesperson, Xolisani Gwesela has confirmed.
Gwesela said this during Warriors’ press conference that was held at Holiday Inn in Harare Tuesday.
Also present at the event were coach Zdravko Logarusic, Captain Knowledge Musona and team manager Wellington Mpandare.
The ZIFA spokesperson told the media, chances are high the two could join the rest of the squad later this week.
He also said they could miss the crucial away game against Botswana to be played on Thursday evening.
“They might not be available for the game against Botswana but we will continue working hard to ensure that the players are available for the game against Zambia,” said Gwesela.
Their absence follows after French League 1 and 2 clubs unanimously voted against releasing foreign players from travelling to their native countries for the national team duty due to Covid-19.
The French government had also put in place strict travel restrictions that saw all foreign players plying their trade in France being affected.
However, football associations including ZIFA and Mozambique Football Federation (MFF) reportedly engaged the government about this decision.
After the engagement all players were cleared to travel but under strict conditions like boarding a private jet on the players’ return to France for them to be exempted from quarantine.
Meanwhile, the country’s football mother body as a result of financial doldrums, approached MFF to get assistance to transport Munetsi and Kadewere using the Mozambique private jet.
MFF agreed though they then engaged its government which also accepted to assist carry the two when they will transport their players who are based in France.
“We have engaged Mozambique Football Federation, who have in principle, agreed to assist us to transport the players back to France after the qualifiers.
“MFF engaged their government which agreed to provide the private flight to Mozambique(national) players who are based in France,” he said.
Despite this, Gwesela said the matter has been finalised yet though the association is making frantic efforts to bring the duo for the game.
He then added that they have written to the Sports and Recreation Commission who indicated that they have forwarded the issue to the Ministry of Sport.
This will see the matter being dealt with government to government, once the matter has been finalised at this stage the two will be in the country anytime soon.
