Online Reporter
Curtworth Masango
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE Under-23 coach Marc Sanchez has entrusted Corbin Mthunzi with the captain’s armband as the Young Warriors prepare to face Mauritius in their opening Under-23 AFCON qualifier at the National Sports Stadium today.
For Mthunzi, the responsibility comes after spending three camps with the senior team, an experience he believes has prepared him to play a leadership role among his peers.
The Ipswich Town defender says he has used his time in the senior national team to learn from the established players and now hopes to pass some of those lessons to his Young Warriors teammates as they seek qualification for both the AFCON and Olympic Games.
“I have been learning from the senior players, especially from the three camps that I have been involved in,” said Mthunzi.
“I have gathered a lot of information from being around them and obviously being able to play with them.
“Now that I have come to play for the Under-23s, hopefully I can give the other players some of the information and experience that I have gained from being with the senior players.”
Mthunzi believes there is enough talent within the Young Warriors ranks to produce future senior internationals.
“We have great players here already. Obviously, we have all got a lot of learning to do, and that is what we are here for, to develop and hopefully be able to get into the senior squad in the future,” he said.
That pathway into the senior Warriors is also central to Sanchez’s plans for the Under-23 side.
The Spaniard said his primary mandate is to develop players capable of graduating into the senior national team, although he also wants his charges to compete for results and progress through the qualifying rounds.
“We have had four training sessions and today will be the fifth one. I am happy with the behaviour and performance of the players and also with the help of my staff,” said Sanchez.
“I think we are well prepared.
“I told the guys on the first day that our first objective is to help them develop and help them become senior national team players in the future.
“That is the first objective we have as an Under-23 team.
“The second one is to pass rounds because they have great ability. That will also give us more time to keep working with them.”
Sanchez believes development and results can go hand-in-hand, insisting his charges will approach the Mauritius assignment with the intention of winning.
“We have the two goals very clear. The first one is to get the best players we can and help them develop so that, in the future, they can be part of the senior team,” he said.
“That is the main objective and the one we are most concerned about.
“Then, of course, every football match is about competing. We are competitive people, the players and all the staff.
“We will try to win. We will feel the pressure, but that is part of football.”
This game comes just 48 hours after the Warriors lost 2-1 to DRC in an AFCON qualifier at the same stadium.
The Under-23s watched that game and will be aware that they must try to give the fans something to smile about.
