adminNational Under-20 coach Mandla Mpofu is confident his charges will get past the Group stages at the Cosafa Under-20 Championships despite limited time in camp.
The Young Warriors left Harare on Monday for the tournament to be staged in South Africa and will kick-off their Group B campaign, on Wednesday against arch-rivals Zambia.
Zimbabwe are in the hunt for a seventh Cosafa Under-20 title and Zambia, who boast of 10 crowns pose as Mpofua��s boysa�� greatest threat.
Malawi are the other Group B member.
But with the Young Warriors having less than two weeks in camp, they could find the going tough especially with Zambia as their biggest nemesis.
Mpofu is however adamant that they will fare well.
a�?Of course we would have loved to have more time in camp but, the advantage we have is that these boys have played together before, in the Africa Under-20 Nations Cup qualifiers. We did our best in the little time we had in camp,a�? Mpofu said.
a�?We do not want to have some excuses. There is some bit of experience in the team, because most of these guys play first team football in the PSL. We are looking forward to a good tournament and probably reach the semi-finals and then see what happens from there.a�?
In preparing for this tournament, the Young Warriors drew 3-3 in a warm-up match against Dynamos.
The likes of Ngezi Platinum and Warriors fringe goalkeeper Nelson Chadya, the Highlanders duo of Bukhosi Ncube and Prince Dube, Harare Citya��s Jerry Chipangura, as well as King Nasama of Dynamos are expected to provide experience in the team.
The last time when Zimbabwe won the Cosafa Under-20 tournament, was in 2007 with Warriors striker Knowledge Musona, inspiring them to victory in the final against South Africa back then.
Zimbabwe Cosafa squad:
Goalkeepers: Nelson Chadya, Kelvin Shangiwa
Defenders: Last Kapuya, Derwin Phiri ,Angels Mawere , Bukhosi Ncube, Simbarashe Chamanikire Frederick Dzeka
Midfielders: Learnmore Munyambo, Amos Ncube, Bright Majamanda, Bukhosi Sibanda, Clive Rupiya, Blessing Sibanda, Barnabus Mushunje
Strikers: Prince Dube, King Nasama, Jerry Chipangura ,Thomas Kudyaridzire, Nqobile Ndlovu.
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derick.khumalo