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Sports Reporter
ZIFA yesterday made their intentions clear that they are serious about building a formidable senior national team when they called up the best Under-23s available for the match against Morocco on Sunday.The Warriors were disbanded by Zifa five months ago after they were knocked out of the 2015 Afcon qualifiers by Tanzania.
Five foreign- based players were called up to the side with Kudakwashe Mahachi probably the biggest name in the side after enticing performances for the Warriors during the January Chan tournament in South Africa.
According to the list released last night, Mahachi will be joined by Macauley Miles Bonne who plays for Ipswich in the UK, Munyaradzi Mbanje of Leeds United (England), David Philano Moyo of Northampton (England) and Mahachi’s former teammate at Bantu Rovers, Marvelous Nakamba who turns out for Vitesse FC in the Netherlands.
Head coach Callisto Pasuwa will be pleased to have a look at his goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva and promising Benard Donovan of How Mine.
Dynamos’ find of the season Blessing Moyo is in the side as well as Bantu Rovers’ Teenage Hadebe, a central defender of note who looks a certain bet to grace the Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year calendar after a very good season, albeit on a losing cause for Mthembe Ndlovu’s army.
Also set to make his Young Warriors debut is Douglas Sibanda loaned out to Shabanie Mine at the beginning of the Year who has shown glimpses of brilliance in an anchoring role at the asbestos miners. He is quite a versatile player in the mould of Mpumelelo Dzowa and Tito Paketh who could be played in a number of roles on the field.
Tafadzwa Mavhunga of championship favourites ZPC Kariba is in the side too with promising Hwange stocky and hard running forward Pritchard Mpelele-Mwamba confirming that the coalminers’ development initiative is gaining respect.
Pasuwa is assisted by ZPC Kariba’s Saul Chaminuka and Hwange’s Nation Dube.
Zifa board member, Tawengwa Hara will travel as head of delegation.
The Warriors are expected to leave Harare via Nairobi tomorrow evening for Sunday’s game and are expected to return on Monday.
Both countries are using the match as part of their preparations for the All-Africa Games, African Championships and Olympic qualifiers.
The Young Warriors
Tatenda Mukuruva (Dynamos) Benard Donovan (How Mine) Blessing Moyo (Dynamos) Teenage Hadebe (Bantu Rovers) Douglas Sibanda (Shabanie) Keith Tafadzwa Mavhunga (ZPC Kariba) Tapiwa Ronald Pfumbidzai (Caps United) Takudzwa Chimwemwe (Harare City) Kudakwashe Mandiranga (How Mine) Gabriel Nyoni (Highlanders) Carlos Rodwell Rusere (DC Academy) Pritchard Mpelele-Mwamba (Hwange) Tinashe Charles Mukanhairi (Caps United) Kudakwashe Mahachi (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa) Macauley Miles Bonne (Ipswich) Munyaradzi Mbanje (Leeds United, England) David Philani Moyo (Northampton, England) Marvelous Nakamba (Vitesse FC, Netherlands)
Online Reporter