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The match will be played at the University of Botswana in Gaborone.
The Young Warriors finally left Bulawayo by road to Botswana yesterday afternoon after having lunch at a local hotel.
The Under-20s were initially scheduled to leave Bulawayo on Tuesday but logistical problems led to them leaving yesterday.
They were expected to arrive in Gaborone after midnight and the Young Warriors coach Jairos Tapera said they would have a light training at the match venue this afternoon.
Zimbabwe go into the match carrying a comfortable 4-0 lead. Poor travel arrangements may have a negative impact on the players’ performance.
Munyaradzi Chiwara who got a brace, Edmore Tsoro and Knox Mutizwa who were on target at Barbourfields Stadium were part of the team that left for Gaborone.
“As a coach I would have liked to hold at least two or so training sessions in Botswana but there is nothing I can do. Our travelLing plans are beyond our control as the technical team and now that we are leaving our minds are set on one thing, progressing to the next level. We just have to make sure that we quickly adapt and play our normal game,” Tapera said.
In a telephone interview from his Harare base yesterday, the Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze admitted that they had blundered and said they had done their best with the limited resources that they had.
He said Zifa was sitting on a $2 million debt and with a busy schedule for national teams their resources were stretched.
Zifa is also organising for the national five-a-side team to leave today for their first leg of the Futsal World Cup Qualifier against South Africa in Johannesburg at the weekend.
“The initial arrangement was that the Under-20 team was going to fly from Harare to Gaborone today (yesterday) but after the camp changed to Bulawayo, we had to look at the other option of getting the players leaving by road. Tuesday was a holiday and from what I hear the guys had challenges in getting a clearance for their vehicle from the police but that has since been sorted.
“To be honest, Zifa is broke and for us to manage everything, we need backing from the corporate world and other stakeholders. Look, had we withdrawn from this competition we would have shot ourselves on the foot because these Under-20s are our future Warriors. Because we want to lay a foundation for the future, we had to take chances and register for this competition even though we knew we had limited resources,” Mashingaidze said.
Mauritius and Swaziland withdrew their teams from the African Championships due to lack of funds.
Mashingaidze was confident that despite the poor travel arrangements, the Young Warriors are going to progress to the next round.
“We are looking at improving in future and it is our hope that in these challenges the boys will get some inspiration and fight for a positive result,” said Mashingaidze.
Meanwhile, from the 18-member squad that was named for the first leg against Botswana at Barbourfields Stadium a fortnight ago Tapera dropped Chrispen Ncube and replaced him with Lawrence Mhlanga.
Mhlanga had been left out for the first leg as he did not have a passport. The Chicken Inn defender nicknamed Dazzy, taken from former Highlanders centreback Dazzy Kapenya, is expected to partner skipper Willard Kalongoda at the heart of defence.
Knox Mutizwa is expected to lead the team’s attack with Kudakwashe Mahachi, Nqobizitha Masuku, Munyaradzi Chiwara and Edmore Tsoro likely to form Zimbabwe’s midfield unit.
Young Warriors’ squad
Goalkeepers: Tonderai Mateyaunga, Roderick Madzongwe
Defenders: Willard Kalongonda, Elvis Moyo, Kelvin Moyo, Vincent Mbira, Lawrence Mhlanga, Kudakwashe Mahachi
Midfielders: Nqobizitha Mauku, Edmore Tsoro, Farai Madora, Munyaradzi Chiwara, Brian Five, Elton Dzirondiro, Tatenda Dzumbunu
Strikers: Farai Mupasiri, Mgcini Sibanda, Knox Mutizwa.
Online Reporter