BY SPORTSCAST WRITER
HARARE – Zimbabwe football captain Knowledge Musona has announced his retirement from international football, with the decision linked to the country’s current ban from the game by world football governing body Fifa.
The 31-year-old forward, who currently plays for Al-Tai in the Saudi Professional League, skippered the Warriors for five years, including at the last two Africa Cup of Nationals finals.
He was capped over 45 times by Zimbabwe in an international career spanning 12 years.
“It is with a heavy heart that I officially announce my retirement from national duty with our beloved national football team, the Warriors,” Musona said in a statement.
“It is a decision that I do not take lightly after representing our beloved country for 12 years, starting with my first appearance on the 3rd of March 2010, in a game versus South Africa. My tie with the Warriors has been an incredible and rewarding journey that I am thankful to have had the opportunity to undertake, one that I only dreamt of achieving early on in my international career. I will cherish every moment that I have spent as a member of this team.”
Musona’s retirement comes after that of his friend and fellow Aces Youth Academy graduate Khama Billiat. The Kaizer Chiefs playmaker walked away from international football before the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon early this year.
Meanwhile, reports are that Zimbabwe have up to 27 May to reinstate sacked national football federation officials for the country’s ban to be lifted by Fifa.
Failure to do so, the Warriors will be thrown out of qualifiers for the 2023 Nations Cup tournament.
Kenya, who were in the same predicament, have been chucked out on Thursday after the East African country failed to comply with Fifa’s demands.
