HARARE – Zimbabwe captain Knowledge Musona has been paraded by a popular Nigerian preacher who claims the striker received “instant healing” for an injury which his Belgian club’s doctors had said might require surgery.
Musona, who turns 29 next month, is currently contracted to Belgian club Anderlecht but is out on loan to Lokeren.
TB Joshua’s Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN) posted two pictures of the former Kaizer Chiefs forward on Twitter, claiming: “Mr Knowledge Musona, captain of the Zimbabwe national football team, had suffered from an ankle injury for five years. As the Belgium-based footballer refused the surgery the doctor suggested, he ran to The SCOAN for divine restoration and was healed instantly.”
In the pictures, Musona is seen standing next to a board with images of him playing for the national team whilst holding a microphone in front of a packed church.
It is not known when the said healing happened, but Musona appears to have been a guest at the church on Sunday, May 26.
Musona was called up to the national team which is preparing for the COSAFA Cup in Durban and the African Cup of Nations in Egypt – but he delayed his departure from Belgium saying he needed to sort out contractual issues with Anderlecht.
Musona agreed with coach Sunday Chidzambwa that he would fly straight to Durban and join up with the squad for the COSAFA tournament which gets underway on Saturday. It is not known if Chidzambwa was informed of the Nigeria detour.
The 2019 COSAFA Cup starts on Saturday with a clash between eSwatini and Mauritius at the King Zwelithini Stadium. It will run until June 8 before teams fly off to Egypt for the African Nations Cup finals which get underway on June 21.
Angola withdrew from southern Africa’s regional championship, becoming the second Nations Cup-bound country after Madagascar who will not use the COSAFA Cup to prepare for the finals.
Their withdrawals mean only 13 countries will be taking part in the tournament in Durban.
Group A will contain three teams – Comoros Islands, eSwatini and Mauritius – with the winner advancing to the quarter-final against champions Zimbabwe.
Group B which contains Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and the Seychelles will begin on Sunday.
Namibia are also Egypt-bound and have named a B team for their COSAFA participation to keep their star players at home for Egypt preparations.
South Africa are sending an under-23 side while Uganda, who are a guest team, are also under cooked for the event.
They both enter the tournament at the quarter-final stage next weekend.
Only defending champions Zimbabwe are expected to take a full-strength squad to both the COSAFA Cup and Nations Cup.
