By Staff Reporter
GABORONE, Botswana – The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has suspended Warriors defender Teenage Hadebe for one match after finding him in breach of the national team’s camp code of conduct, ruling him out of the Mukuru 4 Nations Tournament final against Zambia.
In a statement released Monday, ZIFA confirmed that disciplinary action had been taken in line with team regulations, without disclosing the specific nature of the offence. The association said Hadebe has since apologised to the team and accepted the sanction.
“The Association and the technical team remain committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and accountability within the national team setup,” ZIFA said.
Hadebe’s absence is a significant setback for the Warriors, who are camped in Botswana for the regional tournament, with the experienced centre-back a key figure in Zimbabwe’s defensive structure.
However, sources within the camp have indicated that the suspension may be linked to incidents of indiscipline involving alcohol consumption during camp, allegedly involving Hadebe and other teammates. These claims have not been officially confirmed by ZIFA.
In a video seen by this publication, players including Daniel Msendami, Marvelous Nakamba, and Mongameli Tshuma are captured inside a room where a glass containing a suspicious golden-yellow liquid is visible. The context of the footage and the contents of the glass could not be independently verified.
The latest incident also appears to echo past concerns around Hadebe’s conduct. During previous World Cup qualifying assignments, he was reportedly among players flagged for indiscipline, with sources alleging he was seen at a nightclub while the team was in camp.
While ZIFA has handled the current matter internally, the recurrence of such allegations points to ongoing challenges around discipline within the national team setup, even as the association seeks to enforce stricter standards.
For the Warriors’ technical team, the immediate focus shifts to reorganising the backline ahead of the final against Zambia, with Hadebe’s suspension forcing a late adjustment in defense.
As Zimbabwe prepares for the decisive clash, the incident places both performance and professionalism under scrutiny, highlighting the balance ZIFA is attempting to strike between maintaining discipline and sustaining competitiveness on the field.
