Chronicle EditorGrace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
YOUNG Warriors coach Jairosi Tapera has called for through preparations ahead of the second round of the 2017 Africa Under-20 Championship qualifiers where his charges will meet Cameroon in three weeks’ time.
After seeing off Botswana in the first round, with a 2-0 victory last Friday at Lobatse Sports Complex, the coach says there is need to change the manner in which they prepared for the first game.
The Zimbabwe Under-20 soccer team which lost 0-1 at Barbourfieds in the first leg, overturned that deficit in style to set up a clash with Cameroon, who were on a bye.
Zimbabwe and Bantu Rovers striker Bhukosi Sibanda headed home just after 37 seconds of action and Dynamos defender Peace Makaha made it difficult for the hosts to chase the game when he got the second goal just before the breather.
“I will still continue to say we are at a developing stage when it comes to the junior teams, we are just like the girl child and need more time together to develop,” said Tapera.
“We would need ten days in camp and work on the way we defend, respond in the box and a number of aspects so, as long as you don’t get enough time, it will not come out well.
“The rest of the players except for one or two are not getting game time at their teams so there shouldn’t be a problem in us going into camp.
“But I am sure after our exposure in this tournament, more players will start breaking into first teams at their clubs.”
The coach noted with concern that Cameroon played a friendly match against Ghana.
“We would also need to play a friendly match before this game and we can even drive to Zambia and play them. Zambia and South Africa have expressed their interest in playing us.
“South Africa were on a bye and want to shake off the rust with a preparatory match and they have expressed their willingness in playing us.
“I have raised this in my report to ZIFA and hopefully they will work something out for us.
“We are taking this competition very seriously, this is the future of Zimbabwean football.
“We pray to God we will have time to prepare,” said Tapera.
The gaffer paid tribute to the entire team for their win over Botswana.
“It was a very good match. We may cry about preparations, but I will give credit to the technical team, they did a wonderful job in motivating the players.
“We started the match brightly and about 37 seconds we had scored and that goal disturbed them and we said let’s continue.
“We got another goal just before we went to the breather and it was better for us. They came at us after the breather, but we made one tactical change and we were able to hold on till the final whistle,” he said.
Tapera believes the coming in of Ngezi Platinum goalkeeper Nigel Chadya and Triangle defender Darryn Phiri paid dividends for the team.
The Zimbabwe youth teams returned to action this year after a lengthy absence.
Online Reporter