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Fungai Muderere
TEAMS that will participate in the 2017 Cosafa Under-20 Championships will do so with one eye on the start of the qualifiers for the next African Under-20 Championships in 2019.
That tournament may be 18 months away, but the qualifiers are scheduled to start next April, meaning the Southern African championship, which will run from 6 to 16 December in Zambia, provides the perfect build-up for the African Under-20 Championships.
The pending Southern African soccer showpiece will also give the coaches a chance to work out their best teams and combinations.
Zambia are the perfect example of a team that has done this a�� they triumphed in last yeara��s Cosafa tournament in South Africa, went on to win the 2017 African Under-20 Championships and then starred at the 2017 Fifa Under-20 World Cup in South Korea.
The draw for the 2017 Cosafa Under-20 Championships is likely to take place later this month, with matches set to be played at the Nkana and Arthur Davies stadia in Kitwe.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Under-20 coach Bekithemba a�?Supera�? Ndlovu has started conducting trials as he continues to build towards the Cosafa Under-20 Championships.
Ndlovu is looking for fresh talent across Zimbabwe ahead of the regional showpiece, where he hopes his side can add to their six previous titles, the last of which was won in 2007.
Zimbabwe will be among the favourites again given the huge amount of young talent that exists in the country, which has led Ndlovu to start his nationwide search.
Similar trials will also be held in Harare by coaches Mark Mathe and Mike Madzivanyika as they seek out the best young players that will not only feature for the side at the Cosafa Under-20 Championships and in the African Under-20 Championship qualifiers next year as well.
Zimbabwe have not appeared at the continental finals since 1985, a long wait for the countrya��s youngsters amid considerably more success with the senior national team in the last three decades.
Ndlovu was handed the reins of the Zimbabwe Under-20 team after former coach Mandla a�?Lulua�? Mpofu was elevated to work alongside Norman Mapeza with the senior national team.
Zimbabwe competed at the 2016 Cosafa Under-20 Championships, but did not make it out of the first round.
They lost 5-1 to eventual winners Zambia in their opening match, before behind held to a 0-0 draw by Malawi in the tournament played in South Africa. .
Online Reporter