Sports / Soccer
Musona, Karuru to miss under 23 clash with South Africa
08 Jun 2011 at 02:47hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Under-23 team will have do without the services of French-based winger Ovidy Karuru and Kaiser Chiefs striker Knowledge Musona when they host South Africa in the first leg of the All Africa Games qualifier in Harare later this month.
Young Warriors coach Friday Phiri told SuperSport.com that Karuru is set to return to France soon while Kaiser Chiefs are apparently reluctant to release their chief striker Musona.
"Karuru has said he is likely to return to his base in France although he is still to finalise the dates.
"I have also been informed that Chiefs want Musona back in South Africa although I am still to get more information on that," Phiri said.
However, team manager Wellington Mupandare told a local news outlet that Chiefs had "refused to release him (Musona) insisting they want the player for medical tests during the same weekend we will be playing."
Musona and Karuru played starring roles in Zimbabwe's dramatic 2-1 win over Mali in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Harare on Sunday.
Debate has been raging over whether players who have already graduated into the senior team should be called up for Under-23 duty.
Phiri is however optimistic on the Ajax Cape Town duo of Khama Billiat and Tafadzwa Rusike.
"We have already written to the club and we are hopeful that we will get a positive response," he said.
The Young Warriors go into camp next Monday to begin preparations.
Young Warriors coach Friday Phiri told SuperSport.com that Karuru is set to return to France soon while Kaiser Chiefs are apparently reluctant to release their chief striker Musona.
"Karuru has said he is likely to return to his base in France although he is still to finalise the dates.
"I have also been informed that Chiefs want Musona back in South Africa although I am still to get more information on that," Phiri said.
However, team manager Wellington Mupandare told a local news outlet that Chiefs had "refused to release him (Musona) insisting they want the player for medical tests during the same weekend we will be playing."
Musona and Karuru played starring roles in Zimbabwe's dramatic 2-1 win over Mali in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Harare on Sunday.
Debate has been raging over whether players who have already graduated into the senior team should be called up for Under-23 duty.
Phiri is however optimistic on the Ajax Cape Town duo of Khama Billiat and Tafadzwa Rusike.
"We have already written to the club and we are hopeful that we will get a positive response," he said.
The Young Warriors go into camp next Monday to begin preparations.
Source - Supersport
