Young Warriors coach bullish

Rufaro on Sunday.
Tapera believes the bulk of his class of Young Warriors have the ptoential to graduate into the senior team.
But the FC Platinum development coach wants the Under-20 side to clear the Angola hurdle first and use Sunday’s second round, first leg encounter to take a comfortable lead that would make their life easier for them in Luanda.
Tapera, speaking after his charges’ workout at the match venue yesterday, said his team need to deal with the Angolan challenge first before they can even think of the final qualifier against either Egypt or Kenya in September.
The next edition of the African Under-20 Championships is scheduled for Algeria next year.
“They are a happy lot probably because we have created an environment where they express themselves.
“I am hoping that half of the team will graduate to the Under-23 and the coaches should come and see the players.
“There is great talent in this team from all over the country.
“We have players from areas like Hwange, Zvishavane, Kwekwe . . . we have a team representing the country.
“It is a developmental team and we are giving every young boy a chance and a proper player database should be created to monitor all the players how they will progress even after a tournament,” said Tapera.
Tapera also believes their performance could also give the nation a hint of how the senior team will do against the Palancas Negras.
The Warriors will face the Palancas Negras in a 2013 African Cup of Nation’s final qualifier in September and October.
With the competition rules allowing for a squad of 23 in the qualifiers, Tapera may not need to worry much about having to trim his side.
The Young warriors also got a helping hand in understanding the laws of the game when former referee and a member of the Zifa technical committee, Wilfred Mukuna, held a session with them.
Mukuna, who also a referees’ instructor, took the players through a session of laws of the game and how to conduct themselves towards the match officials.
The initial squad had 25 players but two players have been ruled out after Dynamos midfielder Brian Five pulled a hamstring on Tuesday training while Vincent Mbira will miss the first leg as he picked two yellow cards in the preliminary round matches against Botswana.
“The preparations have gone on well since we started camp last Tuesday.
“We wanted an international friendly but it didn’t work out and we managed to play two local matches.
“I think it is really shaping up and five of our players are doubtful but we will see how they respond.
“We are looking at winning and hope the win would be with a big margin.
“There are no longer home and away matches as teams are doing well either at home or away.
“We went to Botswana and we managed a 1-1 draw but we are prepared for a good match here and the fans should come and pack the stadium as we should do our best here,” said Tapera.
Young Warriors’ first choice goalkeeper, Tonderai Mateyaunga, also declared his team ready for Sunday’s clash.
Mateyaunga, who is now guarding the posts at Premiership side Black Mambas, said the experience he gained from playing at the Cosafa Under-20 Championships in Botswana last December was now helping him at both club and national levels.
“We should get goals on Sunday and I am sure we can even score three goals and not concede any goals.
“After playing Botswana in the previous round we learnt that we have to use the home advantage to the maximum.
“When we went there they played better than they did here.
“We want to beat Angola and progress to the next stage and we can even qualify for the tournament,” said Mateyaunga.