After losing arm, Zimbabwean footballer returns to pitch

At first glance, Zimbabwean footballer Hardlife Zvirekwi looks like any other member of his football team as he dribbles fast down the wing, but just last year he lost an arm in a car crash.

Once a regular in the national side, Zvirekwi's playing days looked over when his left arm was badly crushed as his car smashed into trees while he tried to avoid a speeding vehicle that cut across him.

But he has fought his way back to full health -- and back into Zimbabwe's domestic top-flight CAPS United team.

"It put me on the sidelines when I least expected it. It really had an impact on my career at a time I was looking forward to another great season," he told AFP on the sidelines of a strenuous training session.

"Many people thought that was the end of my career."
"The doctors, the physiotherapist and fitness trainer helped me through the process until I learned the concept of the 'new me'."
- No prosthetics -
==================
"We have got an experienced squad that is balanced and we also have a pool of players that are playing abroad."