adminEddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
CAPS United starlet Ronald Pfumbidzai believes 2013 has been a good year for him after he was called up for the Zimbabwe Under-20 team to play in a four-team tournament in Angola next week. Pfumbidzai made his debut in the Premiership early this year when he joined the Green Machine from Hippo Valley and has enjoyed a meteoric rise to command the first team jersey at the Harare giants.
His efforts have not gone unnoticed and yesterday the 18-year old was over the moon after learning of his first ever national team call-up.
The Young Warriors were invited by the Angola Football Association to feature in the annual Eduardo dos Santos Foundation youth tournament.
The tournament was supposed to take place this weekend but has since been postponed to next week.
It will feature Mozambique Under-20 and either Zambia or Equatorial Guinea.
“I am so happy because I had not expected it. It’s my first season in the Premiership and now my first call-up. It shows I am doing something worthwhile.
“I think I was so fortunate when I came to CAPS United and the goal that I scored on my debut against Black Rhinos in the ZNA Charity Shield helped me settle quickly. I just hope to continue working hard and hope to play in the senior national team soon,” said Pfumbidzai.
Pfumbidzai was called alongside teammates Tinovimba Muskwe and Takudzwa Mahori in a new-look Under-20 team that is also set to begin preparations for the Cosafa Youth tournament to be hosted by Lesotho in December.
Team manager Patrick Mutesva said they called up 25 players who also include promising talents like Walter Musona of Motor Action, Wisdom Mutasa, Prince Edward student Tino Kadewera, Highlanders’ Bobby Nkomo, the FC Platinum quartet of Emaculate Mauna, Livingstone Genti, Nigel Papias and Michael Chihova.
The Young Warriors, who were only informed later about the postponement, had started trooping into camp yesterday and were supposed to start their training this morning.
Mutesva said the tournament was a good platform to begin preparations for the Cosafa youth championships.
“Most of the players are new in the Under-20 set-up because we have the Cosafa youth tournament coming up in December and we should start serious preparations now.
“Instead of taking on board guys who should be 20 by December we opted for the younger players and set our cut-off date at January 31, 1994.”
Zimbabwe Under-20 Squad:
Takudzwa Mahori, Tinovimba Muskwe, Ronald Pfumbidzai (all CAPS United), Emaculate Mauna, Livingston Genti, Nigel Papias, Michael Chihova (all FC Platinum), Walter Musona, Wisdom Mutasa, Benard Donovan (goalkeeper), Albert Kusemwa (all Motor Action), Tatenda Mukuruva (goalkeeper), Abel Gwatidzo (both Dynamos), Liberty Chakoroma (Buffaloes), Michael Ngwenya (Black Mambas), Bartholomew Muzadzi (Twalumba), Tino Kadewera (Prince Edward High), Stanford Chavingire (Hwange), Obey Hunda (Tripple B), Bobby Nkomo, Mgcini Sibanda (both Highlanders), Tatenda Munaapi (Shabanie Mine), Nyambi Mpofu (How Mine), Brighton Mawire (Chicken Inn)
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