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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe national Under-20 soccer technical team has been forced to bear its own expenses for the nationwide talent identification programme it is undertaking to identify players for the upcoming Cosafa tournament.
The Cosafa Under-20 tournament will be held in Zambia from December 3-14 and Zifa agreed to the nationwide trial programme that kicked off in Bulawayo early last month in an effort to provide equal opportunities to youngsters throughout the country.
However, confusion marred the Bulawayo event after only a handful of players turned up at Barbourfields Stadium due to an administrative boob by the Zifa Bulawayo province that failed to postpone junior league matches to allow players to attend the trials.
There was a good turnout of about 120 players in the Masvingo trials a fortnight ago where 16 were selected.
“It hasn’t been easy but we’ve to soldier on as we’re on national duty. Zifa have been promising to bail us out, but so far there’s been nothing, forcing us to dig deep into our pockets,” said one of the coaches.
Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela referred questions to the association’s technical director Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe, who confirmed that it has not been rosy for the juniors’ coaches.
“The guys are trying to manage the situation with limited resources. As the technical think tank, we came up with the idea of reaching all corners of the country so as to afford everyone an opportunity to represent their country. So far we’re happy in terms of the main objective that we want to achieve,” said Jongwe, who is presently in Hwange conducting a Caf C coaching course.
The Under-20 technical team consists of head coach Jairos Tapera, his assistant Mandla Lulu Mpofu, veteran Richard Tswatswa as the goalkeepers’ coach and team manager Patrick Mutesva.
Tomorrow, the quartet will be in Harare before winding up their trials in Chinhoyi. They have set November 8 as the tentative date for the squad to go into camp.
Online Reporter