As Teenage Hadebe takes the fall, who else was drinking whisky in that hotel room?
As Teenage Hadebe serves his one-match suspension for sneaking a bottle of whisky into camp, a big question still needs to be asked: WAS HE THE ONLY ONE WHO BROKE THE RULES?
The FC Cincinnati centreback will miss the Mukuru 4Nations final against Zambia today after ZIFA wielded the axe and banned him for one match.
Hadebe, one of the senior players in the team who are expected to lead by example, has apologised for his moment of madness.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association confirms that Warriors defender Teenage Hadebe has been found in breach of the team’s camp code of conduct.
“Following this, a disciplinary decision has been taken in line with team regulations. Teenage Hadebe has been suspended for one match and will therefore miss the final of the Mukuru 4 Nations Tournament against Zambia.
“The player has since apologised to the team and the Association, and has accepted the disciplinary outcome.”
While ZIFA did not specifically link Hadebe’’s suspension to the sneaking of whisky into the Warriors’ camp, sources told H-Metro that it was the reason the defender was sanctioned.
In a video footage, which has since gone viral, Hadebe was in the same room with a number of Warriors stars.
They include winger Daniel Msendami, who is seen dancing to South African Amapiano star Scotts Maphuma’s music.
Mongameli Tshuma, Andrew Mbeba and captain Marvelous Nakamba are either seated or lying on a bed.
Goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze also appears to be part of the relaxed setting.
Msendami eventually sat on the bed, there is a glass of what appears to be whiskey.
On the floor, from the mirror’s reflection, there is a half full whiskey glass and what looks like an energy drink just an arm’s length away from Tshuma and at the feet of Hadebe.
Hadebe, who is believed to have been filming the video, is visible through a mirror reflection holding a bottle of whisky — a development that has sparked suggestions of possible alcohol consumption during camp, which would contravene team regulations.
That the skipper himself, Nakamba, was also in the room, has triggered a number of questions, the main one being whether Hadebe was the only one who broke the house rules?
The incident is set to paint a bad image of Hadebe and it will overshadow the good work he has been doing on this tour, including personally paying the accommodation costs for some fans.
Nakamba revealed that he and Hadebe quietly covered accommodation costs for several traveling fans who had made the journey from Zimbabwe and faced the prospect of sleeping rough after the match.
“We heard about the situation from a team official,” Nakamba said.
“Teenage and I spoke, and we agreed immediately. These fans spend their last dollar on transport, on flags, on their voices for us.
“The least we can do is give them a safe place to sleep. They are the reason we fight.” *_-H-Metro_*
