Young Warriors leave for Botswana

Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
YOUNG Warriors coach Jairosi Tapera is confident that his charges, who are scheduled to leave for Botswana early this morning by road, will overturn the 0-1 deficit they suffered at Barbourfields and progress to the next round of the 2017 Africa Under-20 Championships.

The Zimbabwe Under-20 soccer team will play Botswana at Lobatse Sports Complex on Friday.

West African giants Cameroon are waiting in the wings in the first round.

Tapera said he has a lot of faith in his charges who wasted a lot of chances in the first leg in Bulawayo and then allowed the visitors score a crucial away goal in the 68th minute.

“We always have to work under pressure and we only got in camp yesterday (Monday) and trained once and today (yesterday) we also trained once but, like any other game, we are looking at winning and setting up a first round match with Cameroon,” said Tapera.

“They beat us at home and we can also beat them in their own backyard and unfortunately they managed to score one past us but we will score many goals there and progress.

“We are not even worried and we are confident that we will win.”

The former FC Platinum coach may be drawing his confidence from the way his players performed in the first leg where Botswana goalkeeper Tumisang Selolwane was man-of-the-match as he made numerous saves.

Zimbabwe strikers Bukhosi Sibanda and Thomas Kadyaridzira were unlucky not to get on the score-sheet.

After the first leg Botswana coach Philemon Makwengwe was confident that he will finish off the Young Warriors in the return leg.

“It was a tough game which gave us a view of what to expect in the second leg. We tried to attack with caution.

“We are confident of making it to the next stage because we are always ambitious. Gone are the days when we respected other countries because of their history,” he said.

Team

Nelson Chazha (Ngezi Platinum), Issa Ali (CAPS United), Darryn Phiri (Triangle), Napius Chodeva (Bantu Rovers), Mukhosi Ncube (Highlanders), Calvin Dingali (FC Platinum), Peace Makaha (Dynamos), Blessing Sibanda (Tsholotsho), Mukhosi Sibanda (Bantu Rovers), Thomas Kadyaridzira (Chicken Inn), Jerry Chipangura (Harare City), Tembalathi Mthunzi (Highlanders), Blessing Nyamuzihwa (CAPS United), Lesley Lunga (Bantu Rovers), Thulani Nxusani, Amos Ncube.