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Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
JUST like other global football stars who meet with the misfortune of not being part of a major competition, Warriors skipper Danny “Deco’’ Phiri will have to make do with the heartbreak of missing out on the African Nations Championships in Rwanda.

The fourth edition of the CHAN tournament will burst into life in Kigali on January 16 with the hosts facing Cote d’Ivoire at Amahoro in the opening match.

But midfield enforcer Phiri will not be part of that jamboree for players who ply their trade in their national leagues, with the Chicken Inn captain effectively ruled out of the tournament yesterday because of an ankle injury.

That injury deals the Warriors a heavy blow as they are not only losing their captain, but one of the two most experienced players in the squad and coach Callisto Pasuwa and his assistants Saul Chaminuka and Nation Dube would now have to juggle around with a game plan that does not involve Phiri.

Phiri has been a doubt ever since the squad began their initial camp two weeks ago and the fears were confirmed yesterday when the Soccer Star of the Year could not pass a fitness test during the morning session.

With his ankle also swollen, the technical crew has given up hope that the skipper whom they had wanted badly for the tournament because of his influence and experience will make it.

Phiri and his vice-captain Hardlife Zvirekwi are the only two survivors from the previous CHAN tournament in South Africa last year where Zimbabwe finished fourth.

The Warriors skipper has, however, taken longer than expected to heal and there have been genuine concerns that even if he finally makes it, he could be lacking in match fitness as he has not been training because of the swollen ankle.

Phiri was injured during the NetOne Easycall Cup final between his club Chicken Inn and Highlanders last month and that match seemed to have heralded a spell of misfortune for him.

In that cup final, Phiri was adjudged to have fouled a Bosso player in the box, handing Highlanders the initiative to take the lead from the penalty spot through Ralph Matema.

Phiri could also not last the distance in the game after picking the ankle injury that has now cost him a golden opportunity to lead his band of home-based Warriors in their quest for CHAN glory.

However, the official communication from ZIFA yesterday was that Phiri will be given another chance after the New Year’s break to try and recover fitness.

ZIFA communications manager Xolisani Gwesela yesterday said Phiri would be assessed again and then the coaches will make their final decision basing on the doctor’s recommendations.

“The Warriors captain will be assessed again after the New Year and the coaches will probably make their final decision afterwards.

“The good thing is he has been doing light training this week and we are praying that he makes it in time,” said Gwesela.

But The Herald can reveal that Phiri has been knocked out of the CHAN tournament by the ankle injury from which he is unlikely to suddenly recover in the next two days.

Phiri’s fitness has been a delicate matter for the technical team and Pasuwa had given him exemption when they initially started camp as he wanted him to recover from exhaustion.

The midfield hardman had a hectic season in which he led Chicken Inn to their maiden championship title, playing all, but one game while at the same time playing a crucial role in the Warriors’ successful quest for a berth at the CHAN finals.

Phiri was also the only local on-field player to make Pasuwa’s regular starting line-up in the Nations Cup squad.

Injuries and low fitness levels have also been stalking Pasuwa’s CHAN squad since Day One.

Hwange goalkeeper Takabva Mawaya has already since been released from camp for treatment.

But it seems the deliberate delay by the authorities to make a decision on Phiri borders on denial of the fact that they will have to do without their influential player who was singled out as the best player at the last CHAN edition by then coach Ian Gorowa.

Phiri, however, is not the only footballer to have found himself in such a situation with former CAPS United and Umtata Bushbucks defensive rock Dumisani Mpofu suffering an injury on the eve of the 2006 African Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Mpofu had to be replaced by Herbert Dick at the 11th hour with the former Amazulu man hogging the limelight in comic fashion after forgetting his boots as he rushed from his home in Kadoma to catch a flight to Cairo.

Such misfortune also struck England’s Rio Ferdinand who suffered a ligament damage to his left knee during the team’s first training session in South Africa ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

If it comes to the worst, CAPS United utility man Hardlife Zvirekwi who was the team’s vice captain, could step in and get the armband at the CHAN finals in Rwanda early next year.

Zimbabwe are in Group D with Uganda, Zambia and Mali.

They are looking to better their performances at the previous tournament where they were among the top finishers despite losing the third place play-off to Nigeria.

The Warriors have no time to waste since their training schedule is already behind after starting late and then encountering some problems along the way.

Pasuwa had an initial six-week programme, but they have missed about two weeks of training.

The team will break again this morning for the New Year’s holiday and then return to camp tomorrow evening with normal training expected to resume on Saturday morning and there is very slim hope for Phiri to have made a dramatic overnight recovery.

Gwesela said efforts are still being made to secure them a friendly match either against Mozambique or Togo before they depart for Rwanda.

“We are still seized with the logistics for the friendly. It’s ideal if we can have our team play a preparatory match, but we will give more details later on,” said Gwesela.

ZIFA, however, appear to have snubbed an invitation for a friendly against Tunisia.