Furore over Warriors physiotherapist
ZIFA have come under re for employing Simba Bhora medic Lenon Gwara as a physiotherapist for the Warriors yet he does not possess the necessary quali cations and neither is he registered by the Medical Rehabilitation Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe (MRPCZ).
Gwara was hired together with the Shamva-based Premier Soccer League side's goalkeepers coach Zwanayi Gwara.
They joined coaches Jairos Tapera, Saul Chaminuka, Takesure Chiragwi and Sunday Chidzambga in the technical department.
Simba Bhora announced the appointment of the duo on their Facebook page on Friday and that post triggered a furore, especially from bona- de physiotherapists, who alleged that Gwara was misrepresenting himself as a physiotherapist yet he does not possess the quali cations.
E orts to get a comment from Zifa yesterday drew blanks.
Gwara describes himself as a "sports specialist in massage, electro-therapy, diet and nutrition and tness and exercise."
This means that Gwara is a masseuse, a dietician and a tness trainer as well.
While massage is part of physiotherapy, a masseuse is not a physiotherapist.
His appointment by the constantly blundering Zifa normalisation committee puts players welfare at risk as he is not a quali ed medical practioner.
Zifa are said to have employed Gwara without checking his quali cations and competences.
The football mother body has been struggling with its appointments, constantly quarreling among themselves and pulling in di erent directions.
Gwara travelled with the national team for the four-nation tournament that was played in Malawi in March as a physiotherapist. All physiotherapists, who practice in the country, are registered with the MRPCZ even if they were trained outside Zimbabwe.
Physiotherapists demanded to know where Gwara attained his quali cation and why he was not registered with the MRPCZ.
"And yet Mr Gwara isn't a registered physiotherapist," one of the respondents on the Simba Bhora post claimed.
Another one questioned; "Physiotherapist? Registered where? This is a protected title and can result in the regulating council taking legal action. Maybe give him another title."
Some demanded that MRPCZ should take action against Gwara.
"Medical Rehabilitation Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe, Health Professions Authority Zimbabwe please take action on those masquerading as physiotherapists for the safety of the public."
Gwara will be working with the national team for their 2026 Fifa World Cup quali ers against Lesotho and South Africa on June 7 and 11 respectively.
Clubs are likely to raise concern with Zifa when they learn that their players' health and safety are being overseen by someone who does not possess requisite minimum quali cations.