A former English Premier League star has revealed the heavy mental burden he is carrying following a recent setback on the pitch.
Zimbabwe national team captain Marvelous Nakamba was responsible for the penalty that led Bafana Bafana to score, resulting in the Warriors’ exit from the 2025 AFCON. The Warriors stood on the brink of qualifying for the knockout stage for the first time.
They had begun their AFCON Group B campaign with a 2-1 loss to Egypt, followed by a 1-1 draw against Angola. The Angola result set up an explosive clash with neighbours South Africa. A win in the final Group B tie against Bafana would have seen them through to the knockout stage.
But at the death of the highly contentious encounter, with the score 2-2, the former Aston Villa midfielder was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box after a VAR check.
Following the incident, the Luton Town midfielder spoke candidly about his fears of letting his home country down, admitting that his current state of mind is nearing a breaking point.
‘I AM HEARTBROKEN’: NAKAMBA
Nakamba, who has captained the Warriors for the past few years, expressed profound regret over his recent performance. The 31-year-old midfielder cited his fellow countrymen’s expectations as his primary source of motivation and now as his primary source of pain.
“I am heartbroken,” Nakamba told The Herald. “If there are people that I never want to let down, then it should be Zimbabweans. Even when I play club football, I play there to make Zimbabweans proud. And these are the same people that I have disappointed.”
He did not shy away from the severity of his emotional distress. “I am really sorry. I don’t know how to express this, but I am slowly sliding into depression with what I have just caused.”
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