Bosso duo get call up

Fungai Muderere
HIGHLANDERS duo of Andrew Mbeba and Thabo Lunga have earned themselves national Under-20 calls ups ahead of the upcoming 2018 MOPANI Copper Mines Cosafa Championships in Kitwe, Zambia from December 2-14.

Young Warriors coach Bekithemba Ndlovu said new players will help the technical team come up with efficient combinations.

“We have got new players, so we need to look at certain formations. I think we will come up with a good team from the 32 players. What we are looking for is developing the young players and we are looking at maybe doing better than we did last year when we get to Zambia,” he said.

Zimbabwe were drawn in Group C at the championships and begin their campaign against Botswana on Monday.

Thereafter Ndlovu’s charges will clash with Lesotho before they close their pool play with a fixture against Angola on December 9.

Only the top team in each pool and the best-placed runner-up advance to the semi-finals.

The Young Warriors side has been among the most successful teams in the history of the competition with six wins in all, the last coming in 2007 when they beat hosts South Africa 3-0 to record a comprehensive final win.

They surprisingly did not fare well in South Africa in 2016 though, going out in the first round with 5-1 loss to Zambia followed by a 0-0 draw with Malawi.

That was followed by another early exit in 2017 when they lost out to Lesotho at the top of their pool on goals scored, having been held to draws by the latter and Namibia.

Provisional Squad:

Goalkeepers: Issah Ali (Yadah Stars), Frank Kuchineyi (Herentals), Prince Kashiri (Chicken Inn), Panashe Nyabunga (Ngezi Platinum Stars).
Defenders: Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders), Brendon Mpofu (Ndlovu Inyathela), Munashe Garananga (Ubuntu FC), Kuzivakwashe Mudima (ZPC Kariba), Emmanuel Jalayi (Aces Academy), Kudzaishe Dzingwe (Talen Vision), Nyasha Garai (Bulawayo Chiefs).
Thabo Lunga (Highlanders), Delic Murimba (Triangle), Mandlenkosi Mlilo (Ngezi Platinum Stars), Blessing Sarupinda (Black Rhinos), Clive Rupiya (Chapungu).