Chronicle EditorPetros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
NAMIBIA coach Ricardo Mannetti has acknowledged that Zimbabwe will be their toughest opponents at the 2015 COSAFA Cup but warned the Warriors not to underestimate his side who have been improving with each tournament.
The Brave Warriors will face Mauritius, Seychelles and Zimbabwe in the preliminary round group of this year’s COSAFA Cup with the winners proceeding to meet holders Zambia in the quarter-finals.
Namibia will face Zimbabwe in the final group game of the tournament in South Africa’s North West province from May 17-30 with their game scheduled for May 21.
Their 40-year old coach is hopeful the Brave Warriors will prevail over their group opponents.
Mannetti told cosafa.com yesterday that he was aware of the threat posed by Zimbabwe in the group.
“It’s a very mixed group and looking at it you have to say there will be no easy games. I think everybody will be a little wary of everybody else. We certainly won’t underestimate anybody.
“In 2013 we played both Mauritius and Seychelles in the pool stages and although we won both matches, it was tight.
“They were difficult games and I expect it to be the same this year.
“Then there is Zimbabwe, we all know how strong they are, but we also hope they will not underestimate us and our strengths. We are desperate to go to the next round,” Mannetti said.
Just like his Zimbabwe counterpart Callisto Pasuwa, Mannetti would have to make do without some of the stars he would have wanted to take with him to the tournament.
“Well, it is obviously quite difficult to bring players from outside of the country because the tournament does not fall on FIFA dates and it is quite long, but we will do our best to see who is available.
“But I anticipate a good mix between young and experienced local players and what I know is that we will certainly have a squad that is able to compete,” Mannetti said.
Meanwhile, Pasuwa who released his provisional squad for the COSAFA Cup on Monday, also named the Under-23 side that will face Swaziland in the Under-23 Championships second round qualifier at Rufaro on May 22.
Pasuwa, who has been doubling as Warriors and Young Warriors coach, is expected to join the COSAFA squad after the Swaziland assignment and is now expected to travel with a few players who had done duty in the game against Sihlangu.
That trip is, however, subject to the Warriors winning through from their group games.
The Under-23 Championships scheduled for Senegal in December has assumed greater significance than the African Games and the COSAFA Cup in that it is a qualifying tournament for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
Should Zimbabwe prevail over Swaziland they would have to clear the hurdle posed by South Africa in order to book their place at the tournament in Senegal.
According to a list released via the ZIFA website yesterday Pasuwa kept faith in the squad that bravely fought a 1-1 draw against Cameroon in Yaoundé with only injured Triangle midfielder Praise Tonha the missing link.
The former Dynamos coach has recalled highly-rated Highlanders striker Thomas Chideu into the squad and will be hoping that Bosso will this time agree to release the player and his teammate Teenage Hadebe for national duty.
Pasuwa will also be hoping that he could this time around call on the talents of FC Platinum striker Walter Musona after the miners only agreed to release Young Warriors skipper Wisdom Mutasa for the tie against Cameroon.
“The technical team has furnished us with their wish list and the processes to secure the players have already commenced,” said ZIFA spokesperson, Xolisani Gwesela.
“The list is subject to alterations.
“We are going to announce the camping details soon because the match date is almost upon us.
“Five Under-23 players namely Kelvin Moyo, Livingstone Genti, Tatenda Mudehwe, Prichard Mpelele and Carlos Rusere will, together with Coach Callisto Pasuwa, join the COSAFA squad after the Swaziland encounter.
“Pasuwa will be in charge when Zimbabwe takes on Swaziland but he will join the COSAFA team for the remainder of the tournament.”
Young Warriors Under-23
Championships Squad:
Tatenda Mukuruva (Dynamos), Takabva Mawaya (Hwange), Blessing Moyo (Dynamos), Ronald Tapiwa Pfumbidzai (CAPS United), Lawrence Mhlanga (Chicken Inn), Munyaradzi Nyenye (Harare City), Teenage Hadebe (Highlanders), Liberty Chakoroma (Buffaloes), John Takwara (Tsholotsho), Wisdom Mutasa (FC Platinum), Nqobizitha Masuku (Highlanders), Malvin Gaki (Triangle), Carlos Rusere (Dynamos), Mgcini Sibanda (How Mine), Jimmy Kanono (Whawha), Livingstone Genti (Whawha), Kelvin Moyo (FC Platinum), Walter Musona (FC Platinum), Thomas Chideu (Highlanders), Tatenda Mudehwe (FC Platinum), Prichard Mpelele (Hwange)
Online Reporter