Young Warriors in Maseru

Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
WARRIORS striker Knowledge Musona scored a hat-trick as the Zimbabwe Under-20 soccer team lifted the Cosafa championship back in 2007 and yesterday his younger brother Walter was part of the part team which left for the same tournament which gets underway in Maseru, Lesotho, tomorrow.
The Zimbabwe Under-20 team won the Cosafa Cup in 2007 under the mentorship of Methembe Ndlovu.

Then a raw Knowledge Musona emerged from the bench to score three goals in Nelspruit against the hosts South Africa to lift the title.
Interestingly, it was the game in which Kaizer Chiefs scouts first identified Knowledge Musona and in July 2009 he was signing for one of South Africa’s biggest clubs.

And now the spotlight falls on the other Musona and it remains to be seen whether the youthful striker Walter Musona will also help Zimbabwe win the regional youth tournament for the second time.

The Aces forward is part of the Young Warriors with his team-mates Wisdom Mutasa and Benard Donovan. They were on loan in the second half of the Premiership at relegated Motor Action.

However, the Young Warriors team have a few experienced Premiership players in the mould of the CAPS United duo of defender and vice-captain Ronald Pfumbidzayi and midfielder Takudzwa Mahori, and skipper Michael Maipe.

Pfumbidzayi had a good maiden season with the Premiership giants and is expected to play a big role in the team.
The team, which was full of confidence, flew into Johannesburg yesterday morning before travelling to Maseru by road.

They were expected to arrive in Maseru early in the evening after travelling by road for about four hours.
Young Warriors coach Jairosi Tapera told The Herald from the South Africa/Maseru border post before crossing into the tiny country that their journey had gone well.

“We arrived in South Africa on time and boarded the buses which are being provided by the sponsors. As I have said before leaving, I am confident and I believe as the technical team we have done our part and what is left is for the boys to deliver. We have been working hard and we should bring the trophy home,” said Tapera.

Zimbabwe will get the ball rolling with a game against neighbours Botswana on Wednesday. They then engage Swaziland the following day to complete their group matches.