U20 team continues with preps for continental tournament

Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWE Under-20 men’s handball team coach Tafadzwa Madure says there is need to beef up his squad as preparations for the International Handball Federation Continental Phase Africa tournament continue.
The IHF Trophy Continental Phase Africa event is slated for November 1 to 7 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The team concluded a week-long camp at Prince Edward School in Harare recently, with 25 players in attendance.

The tournament targets Under-20 (juniors) and Under-18s (youths). Zimbabwe qualified in the Under-20 age group during the regional event staged in Harare in May.

Madure has, however, said that some of the players who were part of the team that qualified will not be available for the event in Ethiopia due to school commitments.

“From the players that we had when we participated in May, three are no longer going with us because they have got exams during that time,” he said.

“So what we did was that we went to the NASH Under-20 games and Under-17 games that were played in Victoria Falls, and selected a couple of players to come and beef up our team.

“We had 25 athletes in camp so that we can boost the team and look at positions that we think we need to definitely beef up, strengthen and improve.”

The three players who will miss the continental event are Don-Ritchie Shato, Tatenda Matasva and Matthew Majoko.

From the 25 that attended the last camp, the coaching staff has retained 19 players.