adminRicky Zililo Sports Reporter
THE Young Warriors kicked off their Cosafa Under-20 Youth Championship preparations with a training session in Zvishavane yesterday.
The provisional squad will be in camp for the next two weeks before leaving for Lesotho on 1 December. The competition will run from 3-14 December.
In a telephone interview yesterday, the Young Warriors head coach Jairos Tapera said only four out of the 27 players called for camp failed to attend the opening training session.
The trio of Tatenda Mukuruva (Dynamos), Prince Edwards’ Tinotenda Kadewera and Mgcini Sibanda were expected in camp last night after finishing their examinations with Hwange’s Pritchard Mphelele-Mwamba also expected to join the squad ahead of today’s training sessions.
Castle Lager Premiership players dominate the provisional Young Warriors squad with 22 of them.
“I am happy that we managed to have more than three quarters reporting to camp on time meaning that we were able to kick start our programme.
“Those who are writing examinations are expected in camp tonight and Mphelele is travelling from Hwange. There are two foreign-based players that are in camp and they came in on Friday,” said Tapera.
The foreign-based players are Willie Blazio Muzvimbiri who plays for Nico United in Botswana and United Kingdom-based Tafadzwa Kutinyu who turns out for Chesterfield in League Two.
Among the players who were in camp on Sunday were Motor Action’s quartet of Wisdom Mutasa, Walter Musona, Donovan Bernard and Albert Kusemwa who played for their team when they lost 0-2 to Caps United on Saturday, Caps United’s duo of Ronald Pfumbidzayi and Tinotenda Muskwe and Bantu Rovers’ centreback Teenage Hadebe who had a remarkable season for the former Premiership club.
Bobby Nkomo of Highlanders and Chicken Inn’s Agrippa Peperere are some of the Premiership registered players that are in camp.
Former Chicken Inn coach Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu is assisting Tapera.
Twenty players will travel to the tournament.
Provisional Squad
Teenage Hadebe (Bantu Rovers), Michael Maite (Black Mambas), Ronald Pfumbidzayi, Tinotenda Muskwe, Takudzwa Muore (Caps United), Agrippa Peperere (Chicken Inn), Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Chesterfield, UK), Abel Gwatidzo, Tatenda Mukuruva (Dynamos), Godfrey Chisungo, Livingstone Genti, Nigel Papias, Emanuel Mauna (FC Platinum), Mgcini Sibanda, Bobby Nkomo (Highlanders), Talbort Mthombeni (How Mine), Pritchard Mphelele-Mwamba (Hwange), Aaron Makuwerere (Maningi FC), Praise Tonha (Monomotapa), Wisdom Mutasa, Walter Musona, Donovan Bernard, Albert Kusemwa (Motor Action), Willie Blazio Muzvimbiri (Nico United, Botswana), Tinotenda Kadewere (Prince Edward School), Obey Hunda (Tripple B), Tatenda Munawapi (Shabanie Mine)
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter