Young Warriors back in camp

qualifier first leg, second round tie against South Africa after a two-day break at Gwanzura.
The Under-23 team is set to clash with Sou-th Africa this weekend in the final round of the All-Africa Games qualifiers.
Rusike – who was in the United Kingdom – joined the rest of the team yesterday afternoon as they stepped up their preparations for the final qualifier.
The Warriors conducted their training session under the watchful eye of assistant coach Darlington Dodo.

Head coach Friday Phiri is expected to arrive in the country today from South Africa where he watched the match between South Africa and Benin in an Olympic Games qualifier over the weekend.
Team manager Wellington Mpandare said preparations were progressing well with most of the players coming in for camp.

“Preparations are going on very well considering that we started training on Monday and the response has been overwhelming,” said Mpandare.
Zimbabwe had wanted to use the services of Khama Billiat but their hopes of getting him for the camp were dashed after Ajax Cape Town refused to release the player. Mpandare said they will have to do without the impressive midfielder when they take on South Africa on Saturday.

“We are missing Khama, we would have wanted to have him because he is brilliant player. We have 28 players yet we were required to call 24 players so there won’t be any replacements.
“Gutu is okay he did not have much training last week but he is okay now. The only injury worry in camp is Devon Chafa but we hope he will be fine to play,” said Mpandare. Chafa had a muscle strain. Mpandare said they will be announcing the final 18 players today.

“We will trim the team by the end of the day tomorrow (today).”
The team is expected to leave for South Africa on Thursday morning and are hoping to conduct their first training session in the afternoon on the same day, as they are not taking any chances ahead of the match.