Headache for Warriors coach Loga as Aston Villa reluctant to release Nakamba. The Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) has a tough task on its hands to convince Aston Villa to release midfielder Marvelous Nakamba, pictured, for the back-to-back 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers against Algeria.
The Warriors are scheduled to take on the desert Foxes in Blida on March 26, while the reverse fixture’s match venue on March 29 is yet to be confirmed. Caf has banned all stadia in Zimbabwe from hosting international matches but Zifa is hopeful inspectors arriving in the country this week will give Barbourfields Stadium the green light to host the reigning African champions.
However, the outbreak of the coronavirus (Covid-19) on the continent, particularly in Algeria has got the Aston Villa front office reluctant to release Nakamba for the two fixtures.
As of yesterday, the North African country had at least 19 confirmed cases of the disease which has killed 3 600 and infected over 120 000 worldwide. The Daily News understands that Villa, who will take on Leicester City this evening, are unwilling to release Nakamba as a precaution against the deadly coronavirus.
Nakamba, who signed for Villa from Belgian side Club Brugge for a fee of €12 million, has been a mainstay in the Warriors midfield in recent years.
Villa are looking for concrete assurances and the preventive measures that Zifa is going to take in order to protect their player from contracting the disease while on national duty.
The situation has been made worse by the fact that the first game is going to be staged in Blida which is at the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in Algeria.
Villa’s concerns are understandable considering that the disease is very contagious with symptoms taking up to at least 14 days before they are visible.
In the English Premier League (EPL), players have been blocked from shaking hands before and after matches. They have also been asked to have very minimal contact with fans. EPL clubs last week agreed that they would play their remaining games behind closed doors in the event that the disease had spread in the United Kingdom.
So far, 211 people have tested positive of the disease in England while two people have lost their lives. With the disease spreading worldwide and a vaccine nowhere to be found, Villa and other EPL clubs are now apprehensive when it comes to releasing their stars for international duty.
In the event that the Villains block Nakamba from travelling for the two games, it will be a huge challenge for the Warriors’ new coach Zdravko “Loga” Logarusic. These two games against the Desert Foxes will be the first time he takes charge of the team in competitive matches since his appointment in January.
Ordinarily, Logarusic would have wanted his best side to take on the reigning African champions in two matches that have a huge bearing on the team’s chances of qualifying for the tournament to be held in Cameroon next January and February.
Algeria currently lead Group H with six points after two wins over Zambia and Botswana.
The Warriors are in second place with four points after drawing 0-0 at home with Botswana before going to Lusaka where they beat Chipolopolo 1-2.
Meanwhile, the locally-based Warriors squad is expected to go into camp today as they begin their preparations for the 2020 Chan finals to be held in Cameroon. Logarusic finally bowed down to pressure and included FC Platinum utility player Ralph Kawondera to the provisional roster.
Kawondera, who was the 2019 Soccer Star of the Year first runner-up, was a surprise omission from the initial roster announced last week on Monday.
Source – MbareTimes
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