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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE bad boy of Zimbabwean football Rodrick Mutuma’s participation in the 2016 African Nations Championship (Chan) in Rwanda hangs in the balance following his violent conduct in the last match for Dynamos.

The lanky striker was red-carded for kicking Highlanders striker Ralph Matema in an off the ball incident during last Sunday’s Easycall Cup semi-final tie at Barbourfields Stadium.

Mutuma’s expulsion disturbed the Harare Glamour Boys’ rhythm as it came at a time they were piling pressure on Bosso in search of an equaliser.

This was his second major case of misconduct following his charge at the referee Philani Ncube in the Chibuku Super Cup final against eventual winners Harare City in October.

Mutuma and his strike partner Takesure Chinyama were shown straight red cards for their conduct. The Premier Soccer League’s disciplinary committee further punished them by imposing four-match bans on each of them after finding them guilty of misconduct and bringing the game of football into disrepute.

Dynamos appealed the bans and even threatened to pull out of the tie against Bosso and only agreed to fulfil the fixture of the suspensions were set aside by former PSL chairman Twine Phiri.

However, after all this episode, Mutuma went on to further embarrass his club with another off the ball incident on Bosso’s Matema, which saw him being sent off.

Warriors’ manager Shariff Mussa said the team will never condone such behaviour as displayed by Mutuma.

“I was not there in both matches, but from the reports we are getting, the player might need to explain himself. He will have to be spoken to strongly,” said Mussa.

“It will be good for his footballing career if he was to improve in terms of his behaviour.”

In relation to the player’s participation in the Chan, Mussa said that decision lies with the coaches and “if they feel he has to be dropped so be it, but if they feel the player has to be strongly reprimanded and still want him in the squad, it’s all up to them”.

Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela said they have always taken pride in the independence of the technical team and would therefore stand by whatever decision the Callisto Pasuwa-led technical staff decides.

“That is their baby; as Zifa we will not interfere in any way,” said Gwesela.

Chronicle Sport is reliably informed that the technical team has already agreed to have a meeting with the wayward but talented footballer.

“It’s only that there could be some forces that might want to interfere with our decision just like what happened prior to the Easycall Cup where a disciplinary committee decision was overthrown by a person, who was not even an appeals’ committee member, but ordinarily such behaviour calls for heavy sanctions,” said a member of the technical team.