By Tafadzwa Chigandiwa
Tanzanian based striker, Prince Dube has been ruled out of the upcoming two crucial Warriors’ Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers dated for later this month, a local media has confirmed.
According to The Chronicle, Mgadafi sustained a hamstring injury during Azam FC’s goalless draw away to Mwadui last Saturday at Mwadui Complex Stadium.
The former Highlanders FC striker told the paper he is not yet sure how serious is his injury.
“I don’t know the gravity of the injury as yet, but I pulled a hamstring on Saturday in the 27th minute. It is disappointing, but that’s the nature of the game,” Dube was quoted by The Chronicle.
Mgadafi is the latest Warriors player to sustain an injury that could sideline him for weeks, resulting in his absence for this months’ penultimate round of the qualifiers.
Warriors will play the Zebras of Botswana on 25 March before hosting Chipolopolo of Zambia four days after.
Meanwhile, a misfortune has befallen Logarusic’s squad as most of his key players are ruled out of the two crunch ties, due to various reasons.
Other Warriors players are doubtful for the qualifiers as a result of injuries, while others have been blocked by travel restrictions that have been put in place in countries were they ply their trade. Moreover, these travel restrictions put in place by different European countries has impeded some of the Warriors players to feature for the decisive AFCON qualifiers.
The travel restrictions indicate that all passengers who travel out of these countries are obliged to quarantine for 10-days on their return. Most clubs are not willing to be affected by these travel restrictions and have opted not to grant their players permission to travel.
England based players became the victims of the travel restrictions, after their clubs officially announced the player’s unavailability for the qualifiers. Therefore apart from the England clubs, French side Olympique Lyon also noticed the county’s football mother body (ZIFA) of Kadewere’s unavailability.
On the casualty list include three DSTV Premiership League players, Khama Billiat, Terrence Dzukamanja, Butholezwe Ncube, Brendan Galloway who plies his trade in the UK and Olympique Lyon striker Tinotenda Kadewere. Dzukamanja suffered an ankle injury while Billiat sustained a leg injury back in January.
The Kaizer Chiefs forward reportedly cracked a bone on his left foot, though reports indicate that he is on his way back as he has began some light training.
Zimbabwe need at least six points to qualify for the next AFCON finals, though four points can also guide them through to the tournament.
