HARARE - Warriors striker Simba Sithole is racing against time to be fit by Friday when the team travels to Tanzania for Sunday’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier.
The Ajax Cape Town forward sprained a muscle in his right thigh during yesterday’s first training session at Gateway High School.
Warriors coach Ian Gorowa has in the meantime called up in-form How Mine forward Kuda Musharu into the squad as cover if Sithole fails to recover before departure on Friday afternoon.
Sithole, who was looking forward to play for his country again after starring at the 2014 Africa Nations Champions (Chan) tournament in South Africa, was devastated with the injury that occurred when the players were warming down after the morning training session.
“It always nice to represent your country and every player is proud to wear that national team jersey,” the former How Mine forward told the Daily News yesterday.
“With the national team that’s where you get noticed. If you remember, Ajax noticed me while playing for the national team during the Chan tournament so it is truly disappointing getting injured on the first day of training.
“I was expecting to go to Tanzania and play for my country and do well for the coach and the fans but now I do not think I will make it.”
Sithole, who also had injury problems in his first season in South Africa, says he will not risk aggravating the injury and will have to wait to hear what the Warriors team doctor Nick Munyonga has to say after further assessments.
“It’s not very serious but the doctors still have to assess me and see if I can continue training with the squad,” he said.
“I will not risk it because there are still some more games to come. I don’t have to go to Tanzania if I’m not 100 percent fit. If I have to go there I need to be able to fight for the team and play very well. For me to be able to do that I need to be 100 percent fit.
“I don’t have to put pressure on myself because there are many games to come. I just have to see how the injury is like during the week.”
Sharrif Mussa, the Warriors team manager, revealed that Gorowa had called up Musharu to be cover in the event that the Ajax Cape Town striker does not make the trip to Tanzania.
“We are calling upon another player, Kuda Musharu. We have called on him to come and join the camp because of the sudden injury of Simbarashe Sithole. As a precautionary measure obviously the coach has called upon Musharu,” said Mussa.
Musharu has been repaid for his early season form for the Bulawayo gold miners.
The former Motor Action and Monomptapa forward is currently the Castle Premiership leading goal scorer with seven goals from seven games.
At the weekend, Musharu scored a brace in Chikurupati’s 2-1 win over Chicken Inn.