CASH strapped Zimbabwe may have to field two goalkeepers in their 2014 World Cup soccer qualifier against Guinea in Conakry on Sunday.
A late flight booking by the financially-troubled Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) meant only 14 seats could be found on the connecting flight from Dakar in Senegal to Conakry for the original travelling party of 25.
In addition, midfielder Hardlife Zvirekwi lost his passport at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and could not proceed to Dakar with the rest of the delegation.
According to The Sunday Mail, the team’s head of delegation Benedict Moyo, assistant coach Peter Ndlovu and physiotherapist Farai Maguwu were also stranded in Dakar after failing to get seats on the flight to Conakry.
German coach Klaus Dieter Pagels and the team doctor set off, along with a squad of 12 players that included goalkeepers Washington Arubi and Maxwell Nyamupangedengu.
ZIFA said they hoped to get at least some of the remaining players to Guinea in time for the game, which kicks off at 1700 on Sunday.
The Warriors, already out of contention for a place at next year’s World Cup Finals in Brazil have also been weakened by the withdrawal of three other key places from the chaotic trip.
ZIFA communications manager Xolisani Gwesela said striker, Knowledge Musona, midfielder Ovidy Karuru and defender Partson Jaure pulled out of the travelling squad at the 11th hour citing to injuries.
Gwesela however sought to underplay the travel chaos and insisted the team would be ready for the game on Sunday.
“What we have here are just logistical challenges that are normal and bound to happen in any event management,” he said.Advertisement