Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Zimbabwe set to field two goalkeepers in a match after flight blunder
Zimbabwe are set to field two goalkeepers in their starting lineup for a crunch World Cup qualifier with Guinea this week - after a mix up over flights.
The incident occurred when the country’s cash-strapped Football Association decided to leave it until the last minute to book flights to Conakry for the game, in the hope of getting them at a bargain price.
But their bungling officials didn’t count on there not being enough seats left, which is exactly what happened when they eventually booked the tickets this week.
Zimbabwe’s FA did secure 14 seats but not enough to take the full squad - meaning a squad of just 12 made the journey, along with their manager Klaus Dieter Pagels and the team doctor.
The drama didn’t stop there though, because one player lost his passport during a change of plane in Nairobi and was not allowed to continue with the team.
It means that coach Pagels has just 11 players to choose from ahead of the game this Sunday - two of which are goalkeepers.
Shot stoppers Washington Arubi and Maxwell Nyamupangedengu are set to battle it out to decide who will go between the sticks, and who plays in an outfield position.
In the meantime, work is frantically going on to sort out the transportation of the rest of the squad to Guinea, but no flights are currently scheduled.
The incident occurred when the country’s cash-strapped Football Association decided to leave it until the last minute to book flights to Conakry for the game, in the hope of getting them at a bargain price.
But their bungling officials didn’t count on there not being enough seats left, which is exactly what happened when they eventually booked the tickets this week.
Zimbabwe’s FA did secure 14 seats but not enough to take the full squad - meaning a squad of just 12 made the journey, along with their manager Klaus Dieter Pagels and the team doctor.
The drama didn’t stop there though, because one player lost his passport during a change of plane in Nairobi and was not allowed to continue with the team.
It means that coach Pagels has just 11 players to choose from ahead of the game this Sunday - two of which are goalkeepers.
Shot stoppers Washington Arubi and Maxwell Nyamupangedengu are set to battle it out to decide who will go between the sticks, and who plays in an outfield position.
In the meantime, work is frantically going on to sort out the transportation of the rest of the squad to Guinea, but no flights are currently scheduled.
