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Raymond Jaravaza
NEW arrivals in the Young Warriors camp must not expect automatic slots but should instead prove their mettle to make it into the final squad to play West African giants Cameroon in the second round of the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Zimbabwe Under-20 coach Jairos Tapera (ABOVE) is expected to name his final squad a day before the encounter.
The return fixture of the qualifiers is on 10 June in Cameroon.
Tapera welcomed on fire Highlanders striker Prince Dube, Dynamosa��s Peace Makaha and unheralded Rungano Kanyepi who plays for the Manchester International Football Academy in the United Kingdom.
Kanyepi is on holiday in the country and was recommended to try his luck with the Young Warriors team.
Another youngster Tatenda Makuwe who plies his trade for the Absa Premiership giants Orlando Pirates junior structures and Nqobile Ndlovu of PSL club How Mine are also hoping to make it into the final squad.
Tapera said he expected the new arrivals to bring the much needed competition in camp.
a�?No one is guaranteed of a place in the final squad and we are hoping the new guys will give the other players the much needed competition.
Players such as Kanyepi, who is on holiday from the UK, will have to prove to the technical team that they deserve to be in the final team but Ia��m happy we have a squad with depth in camp,a�? said Tapera.
The coach conceded that he knows little to nothing about their opponents.
a�?We have been trying to find video football of Cameroon but ita��s proving to be an impossible task. The only information we know about them is that they have played Ghana two times as well as Guinea.
a�?Cameroon are obviously a physical side and we can only beat them by playing a tactical match with pace and precision passing,a�? he said.
The Young Warriors beat Botswana on 2-1 aggregate to advance to the second round of the qualifiers.
The Under- 20 Africa Cup of Nations will be hosted by Zambia next year.
Squad in camp:
Issa Ali, Blessing Nyamuzihwa, Mathias Chodiwa, Bukhosi Sibanda, Lesley Lunga, Tembelathi Mthunzi, Bukhosi Ncube, Prince Dube, Tatenda Ruzvidzo, Jerry Chipangura, Dexter Mawere, Thomas Kadyaridzire, Amos Ncube, Thulani Khumalo, Darwin Phiri, Pride Mhlanga, Nelson Chadya, Blessing Sibanda, Peace Makaha, Nqobile Ndlovu, Musa Kalombe, Rungano Kanyepi, Tatenda Makuwe, Ben Musaka
Online Reporter