adminMandla Moyo, Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWEAN young footballers continue to miss out on opportunities to showcase their talent at a regional level, with the Zimbabwe Football Association confirming that the Young Warriors will not take part in next month’s Cosafa Under-20 to be staged in Zambia.
This year’s Cosafa Under-20 Championships will be staged in the Zambian capital city, Lusaka from 4 to 14 December. Zifa communications and competitions manager Xolisani Gwesela said the Young Warriors will not take part due to budgetary constraints.
“Due to budgetary constraints we saw it fit to withdraw from this tournament, a position we took long back as an association. Resources willing we are going to participate in the near future while catering for all groups under our charge considering that the year is coming to an end as we speak,” said Gwesela.
Zifa announced in August that they were withdrawing from the Cosafa Under-17 and Under-20 tournaments. Many thought it made sense to pull out of the Under-17 in Mauritius since there were no alternative travelling arrangements besides flying but with the Under-20 tournament hosted by Zambia, where the team can travel by road, it was thought Zifa would reconsider the decision to withdraw.
South Africa are the defending champions after winning the regional title for the last two years. Zambia have the highest number of Cosafa Under-20 titles as they have won the tournament 10 times, followed by South Africa with eight and Zimbabwe on six.
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Bongani Ndlovu