Rinomhota withdraws from Warriors camp

Warriors midfielder Andy Rinomhota has withdrawn from the national team camp after requesting permission to attend to an urgent family matter, the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) has confirmed.

In a statement released on Friday, Zifa said the decision followed consultations between the player, the technical team and the association, and was taken "in the best interests of all parties".

"Zifa respects and supports the player's decision and appreciates the professional manner in which the matter was handled," the association said.

Zifa added that Rinomhota remains an integral part of the national team setup and that the association looks forward to his return once the family issue has been resolved. The football governing body also appealed to the public and the media to respect the privacy of the player and his family during this period.

Rinomhota, who had been expected to be part of the Warriors squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations tournament, described the decision to step away as a painful one.

"I am deeply gutted to miss out on a tournament of this magnitude. Representing Zimbabwe at the highest level has always been a source of pride," he said.

The midfielder explained that although he remains fully committed to the national team, the family matter meant he was not in the right psychological space to give his best on the pitch.

"This decision has not been taken lightly. I remain fully committed to the national team and look forward to returning to duty once the family matter has been resolved," Rinomhota said.

He also wished his teammates and the technical staff well, saying he would be supporting the squad "wholeheartedly" and praying for Zimbabwe's success at the tournament.

Rinomhota thanked Zifa for its support and echoed the association's call for privacy for himself and his family as he deals with the matter.