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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE government has ordered Zifa to field a strong senior national team for the upcoming 2017 African Nations Cup qualifiers whose climax will be in Gabon. Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela told the media soon after the release of the draw yesterday that the country will use the Under-23s in the qualifiers.
The Afcon 2017 draw was released on Wednesday afternoon and Zimbabwe came out in Group L together with Guinea, Malawi and Swaziland.
The Warriors will have to battle their bogey opponents Guinea and Malawi as they bid to end more than 10 years of Nations Cup wilderness. Zimbabwe has beaten Guinea just once in their seven African Nations and World Cup qualifiers.
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Andrew Langa, long blamed for his apparent soft spot for the Cuthbert Dube led Zifa board, took a swipe at the decision to field Under-23s for the qualifiers and said he will immediately engage them through the Sport and Recreation Commission.
“I’m certainly not in line with that position (fielding the Young Warriors). We just can’t play with the minds of football loving Zimbabweans. Why should we play games with them?
“We need the country to prepare well and field a strong side that will have the potential of bringing smiles to the people,” said Minister Langa in an interview yesterday.
He said it was common knowledge that the country has always struggled against Guinea when using senior players and there was no reason therefore to field youngsters.
“The youngsters played very well against Cameroon in the African Games qualifier but I personally don’t think they can stand the heat against foreign legion of stars who will obviously be recalled by their associations for the qualifiers.
“We can’t change our football fortunes that way, this is a tournament for men not boys,” said Minister Langa.
Zimbabwe open their campaign with an away clash against Malawi on the weekend of June 12 to 14, just two months away.
Guinea will be in Zimbabwe over the weekend of September 4-6 before the qualifiers take a rest until March 2016 when the Warriors are set to travel to Swaziland on the weekend of March 23-26 and the return leg a few days later.
The Flames of Malawi visit Zimbabwe on the weekend of June 3-5 before the Warriors wrap up their campaign with an away trip to Guinea in September 2016.
Meanwhile, Minister Langa said he would liase with his counterparts in government to mobilise resources for the national team’s Afcon qualifiers.
“I know that Zifa on their own will not manage the financial needs of the qualifiers and as long as there is no funding it will always be difficult to achieve the objective of qualifying for the finals,” said Minister Langa.
Online Reporter