JOHANNESBURG – Zimbabwe striker Tino Kadewere caused chaos at Warriors training on Monday after storming at journalist Yvonne Mangunda in a heated confrontation that temporarily brought the session to a halt.
The incident occurred at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, where the Warriors were preparing for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Rwanda.
Witnesses said Kadewere poked and threatened the freelance journalist, accusing her of making negative posts about him on Facebook.
Shocked teammates and technical staff intervened, suspending training for several minutes before calm was restored.
The 29-year-old striker, who plays for Greek side Aris Thessaloniki, later issued an apology, admitting he had acted out of “emotion and anger.”
Team manager Clemence Matawu also apologised on behalf of the Warriors, describing the confrontation as “regrettable” and assuring journalists that it would not be repeated.
The Zimbabwe Football Association said it “notes with deep regret the incident that occurred at Orlando Stadium during the Warriors’ media open training session, involving national team player Tinotenda Kadewere and journalist Yvonne Mangunda.”
A statement added: “ZIFA strongly condemns any form of abuse towards the media. Journalists are a vital part of the game, and we are committed to ensuring they carry out their duties without fear or intimidation.
“The player has apologised to Ms Mangunda, and an amicable understanding between the two parties has been reached. The matter is being addressed through the appropriate disciplinary processes by both the team management and the association.”
ZIFA said it “takes full responsibility for upholding the highest standards of conduct within our teams and reaffirm our commitment to respectful engagement with all stakeholders.”
Mangunda, a seasoned football journalist, has covered the Warriors for more than a decade. She did not immediately comment on the altercation.
The Warriors face Rwanda in a Group C qualifier on Tuesday. Zimbabwe are forced to play home matches in foreign countries due to lack of FIFA-approved stadiums.
The post Kadewere halts Warriors training after confronting journalist appeared first on Zimbabwe News Now.