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Ellina Mhlanga
Senior Sports Reporter
WITH the International Handball Federation Trophy Zone VI expected to get underway tomorrow, Zimbabwe’s Under-20 coach Cephas Mushati is confident his side will deliver.
Six countries – Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Eswatini, Zambia and Zimbabwe – are expected to take part.
The regional tournament for the Under-20 (junior) and Under-18 (youth) men’s teams runs until Saturday in Harare.
The participating countries are fielding teams in both age-groups except South Africa, who are competing in the Under-20 only.
Initially, nine countries were expected to compete but Mozambique, Botswana and Namibia are no longer participating in the tournament.
The juniors’ games will be at Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex and for the youth, the matches are set for City Sports Centre.
Zimbabwe’s teams got into their final camp last week at Girls High School and Mushati said his Under-20 side looks promising.
“Everything is promising though we are still fine-tuning. But we are promising that these guys they will do well. The boys are promising that they are going to give a good fight.”
The matches will be played in a round-robin format.
“What I can say is, all the games are crucial because we are not going for the semi-finals, we are not going for the finals…So what I can say is we are going to approach all the games with caution because they are all crucial,” said Mushati.
Zimbabwe’s juniors take on Malawi in their opening encounter tomorrow.
The regional tournament is the first step towards qualification for the World Junior and Youth Cup expected to take place next year.
The winners for each age group in this competition advance to the continental tournament also scheduled for next year to determine Africa’s representatives at the global stage.
In the absence of Mozambique, who are a force to reckon with in the region, Mushati said his main worry is Zambia but noted that they are not underrating any team going into this event.
“The absence of Mozambique gives us a good chance because we know Mozambique is a threat mostly in Southern Africa. So it’s a good chance although we have another nation which is coming up as a powerhouse, which is Zambia.
“Going into this tournament, what I can say is my main target is to have a good result compared to the team which played in the last edition of this tournament. Winning the tournament is another target of course but it is a bonus.
“But what we need is to get a better result compared to the team which played in Zambia, in 2018. But we have got a very good chance considering that the powerhouse, Mozambique are not around and (we have) home advantage of course,” said Mushati.
In the previous edition, Zimbabwe’s junior and youth teams finished fourth and third respectively.
Alan Mandeya is in charge of the Under-18 side.
Zimbabwe Handball Federation secretary-general Edson Chirowodza said participating teams are expected to arrive today.
“Teams are expected tomorrow (today). So far we have received officials, that is the referees and technical delegates.
“We now have six countries. Mozambique and Botswana could not meet the tournament requirements, so they are out.
“Namibia withdrew,” said Chirowodza.
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