adminAugustine Hwata Senior Sports Reporter
THE national Under-20 soccer team are hoping to step up their preparations for the regional Cosafa Youth Championship by holding a two-week training camp in Zvishavane ahead of the tournament set for Lesotho next month.
Mining giant Mimosa have provisionally offered to assist the cash-strapped Zifa with camping facilities for the Under-20 team as they prepare for the championship in Maseru.
National Under-20 team coach Jairos Tapera is employed by Mimosa who have heeded the calls by Zifa for corporates to come on board and support the national teams.
Tapera is also the Warriors assistant coach as he works under Ian Gorowa in the technical department.
National Under-20 team manager Patrick Mutesva yesterday said they were still making consultations with Zifa to see if it was possible for the youth team to camp in the Midlands town instead of using the facilities at Zifa Village in Mount Hampden.
“So far we just have a provisional squad that should be coming into camp and most of the players are from established clubs. We have been offered something by Mimosa who are the parent company for FC Platinum and we need Zifa to finalise everything.
“According to the plan at hand, we should be camping for two weeks with 30 players and then name the final 20 for Cosafa before our departure for Maseru.
“The coaches have selected players for assessment but some could be coming from the United Kingdom and other bases at their own expenses so that they can fight for places in the team,” said Mutesva.
United Kingdom-based Mikaael White (18) recently indicated that he would like to play for his country of birth Zimbabwe and was prepared to join the national Under-20 squad during their preparations for next month’s Cosafa tournament.
Online Reporter