Zimbabwe’s preparations for the World Cup qualifier against Guinea suffered a setback yesterday as the technical team was forced to drop the South Africa-based duo of Khama Billiat and Matthew Rusike from their plans due to injuries. The Warriors regrouped yesterday after getting a day’s rest following Sunday’s match against Egypt which they lost 4-2 at the National Sports Stadium. But there were fitness concerns for the two players and further worries over Knowledge Musona who, however, is expected to be fit to travel to Conakry for the match. The Warriors forward was rested yesterday when the team resumed training. Team manager Sharrif Mussa confirmed that Billiat and Rusike will not play a part this weekend and have been replaced by midfielder Masimba Mambare and Hwange defender Eric Chipeta, who were part of an enlarged squad. Billiat, who was introduced as a second-half substitute in the match against Egypt, has been ruled out with a hamstring injury while Rusike is down with a groin problem. “We have made some adjustments to our team because we have two players who are out of this trip because of injuries. “Our medical staff have been attending to them and following a thorough assessment it was recommended that we drop them because by the look of it they cannot recover on time. “So we have replaced them and we are just hoping that there will not be more injuries,” said Mussa. The team will continue with their preparations today as the technical team will be trying to psyche up the players following Sunday’s defeat. Zimbabwe, who are rebuilding a new side with German coach Klaus Dieter Pagels, anchor the four-team group with one point from four games and will be hoping to quickly forget the disappointment of losing at home in their last game. The Warriors’ World Cup dream has since vanished and they will be going out to defend the nation’s pride against the Syli National of Guinea, who remain the only team with a mathematical chance of upstaging the Egyptians in Group G. Guinea hammered Mozambique 6-1 at home on the same day the Warriors were losing to take their points tally to seven, five behind the Pharaohs. The Egyptians have established themselves as firm favourites to win the group after winning all their four matches. Guinea could still be cherishing faint hopes and the Warriors should brace for bigger challenges in Conakry. Zimbabwe were badly exposed by Egypt on Sunday and Mussa yesterday said they were hoping to address their shortcomings ahead of the trip. “We had a meeting yesterday (Monday) and now it’s back to full training. The guys have learnt from their mistakes and they definitely want to do better,” said Mussa. Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze said the team will leave tomorrow via Johannesburg and Dakar (Senegal) and will arrive in Conakry on Friday morning and have time to train on Saturday. Mashingaidze said they were monitoring the security situation in the country following a wave of ethnic violence that has killed scores of people in the last month. “We understand there have been some ethnic skirmishes in Guinea but we have been told that security is on high alert. We have been making consultations to get the real picture concerning the situation on the ground. The communication has not been easy since there is no Zimbabwe embassy in Guinea. “But Mozambique were there at the weekend and they played their game without incidents so we are encouraged by that. “So the team will arrive Friday morning and then leave soon after the match on Sunday evening,” said Mashingaidze. *gdn*
Posted on: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 04:27:35 +0000
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