The Warriors technical team has not considered dropping from the African Nations Championships (CHAN) squad a player who tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday despite others being placed on standby.
Warriors manager Wellington Mpandare said the player, who has not been named, will remain in isolation until Tuesday when they will conduct the last tests before departure for the tournament on Wednesday. Said Mpandare:
We do understand that one can test positive despite having recovered, hence we will be monitoring the player, and for now he will remain in isolation until Tuesday when we will conduct the last tests ahead of departure for Cameroon on Wednesday.
It is after the Tuesday tests that a decision on replacing any of the 23-man squad will be made.
Despite us having players on standby, it is exciting news that the majority of the 23-man squad have tested negative.
It would have had a negative impact on the team if the results had returned otherwise.
The Warriors’ preparations for CHAN were thrown into disarray when a COVID-19 outbreak hit their camp with head Zdravko ‘Loga’ Logarusic, 10 of his players, and four other officials testing positive for the virus.
Meanwhile, the Warriors resumed training on Saturday after all, but one player returned negative results following the latest round of tests carried out on Friday.
The Warriors leave for Cameroon on Wednesday and clash against the Indomitable Lions on Saturday night in a Group A opener.