adminSikhumbuzo Moyo in BULAWAYO
NINETEEN months after the proclamation of Bulawayo as hosts, the sixth edition of the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games finally get underway this afternoon with four football matches set for Luveve and Barbourfields.
Hosts Zimbabwe will get the ball rolling with a date against Mozambique at Barbourfields while regional powerhouse and defending champions South Africa will square off against Zambia at Luveve.
Both matches get underway at 2pm.
Zimbabwe’s Young Mighty Warriors, under the tutelage of former Mighty Warriors stalwart Sithethelelo “Kwinji 15” Sibanda, will take on Namibia soon after their male counterparts at Barbourfields.
South Africa’s Basetsara take on Botswana at Luveve.
The women’s matches get underway at 4.30pm.
The Young Warriors, under youthful coach Tafadzwa Mashiri, will want to start the tournament on a high note and will enjoy the added advantage of the 12th man on the stands and, with the preliminary rounds free of charge, Emagumeni is sure set to be full to capacity.
The fans will also want to get a glimpse of the new-look Barbourfields.
The Highlanders trio of goalkeeper Tatenda Ndlovu, Ishmael Munsaka and Bukhosi Ncube, Bantu Rovers’s Denzel Khumalo, Bukhosi Sibanda, both registered in the Premier League, Thembalethu Mthunzi and Lesley Lunga are some of the teenage stars expected to feature for the Young Warriors.
At Luveve, it’s a repeat of the final two years ago and losing finalists Zambia have a perfect opportunity to take revenge on Amajita, who beat them 1-2.
Zambia and South Africa are also using the Region 5 Games to prepare for the 11th edition of CAF 2015 Under-17 African Youth championship in Niger set for May.
Zambia are led by coach Hector Chilombo, who also looks after the national Under-20 side, and said recently he was looking to make up for missing out on the gold medal to South Africa when Zambia hosted the tournament two years ago.
“We only have three players from the team that played the qualifiers because the age limit for this tournament is 1997.
“We will have no problems working with the players as most of them have worked with us before and know our philosophy.
“Our target is to go and win the top prize after missing out in 2012 when we hosted the Games.
“The tournament will be tough but we will work hard to win in Zimbabwe.”
Zambia are in Group B along with South Africa, Namibia and Lesotho, while Group A has hosts Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Angola and Swaziland.
Seychelles were in Group B but pulled out citing financial challenges.
The top two sides from each group advance to the semi-finals which are set for December 13.
The women’s competition is played in a round-robin format.
Online Reporter