Young Warriors return to camp

deficit in the return leg of the final All-Africa Games qualifier against South Africa at Rufaro this Sunday.
The Young Warriors, who now have a mountain to climb after losing the first leg tie, have reached the critical stage in their campaign for the Maputo Games.
But their preparations will be overshadowed by the women’s Cosafa Championships currently underway in Harare.
Team manager Wellington Mpandare yesterday said most of the locally based players reported for camp yesterday.
But regular members of the team, Archford Gutu and Abbas Amidu who have been linked with trials in South Africa, foreign-based players Trevor Mutero, Matthew Rusike and Mamelodi Sundowns’ recent signing Simba Sithole were not part of the group that checked in. Mpandare also revealed that they had drafted in another defender Tinashe Masika from Kiglon to provide cover for Knowledge Machona who was injured in the first leg in South Africa. The Monomotapa fullback missed yesterday’s league match against Motor Action at Gwanzura as he is still battling for fitness.
“We are still assessing him but we have added another defender in case he won’t recover in time. But we have almost everyone here except the foreign-based players and a few others who are still on their way.
“Those from Monomotapa and Motor Action joined soon after their league game,” said Mpandare.
New additions Donald Ngoma and US-based Ntokozo Tshuma were also among the early birds. Mpandare said they were still hopeful of overturning the 0-2 defeicit they suffered in the first leg.
“South Africa are a good side and they have done well at home in both the Olympic Games and the All Africa Games qualifiers.
“But if you look at it in another way, they have been poor travelers, losing most of the away matches. They have conceded more goals way from home and, on a good day, nothing can stop us from beating them,” said Mpandare. But South Africa are looking beyond Sunday’s game.
Coach Shakes Mashaba said he wants to win the All-Africa Games.
“Why do a lot of people take the Olympics as better than the All-Africa Games?
“We can never be world beaters unless we start by being the best on our own continent.
“It’s going to be tough. They’re going to bring out the big guns and go all out,” said Mashaba.
Zimbabwe Under-23 squad
Goalkeepers: Ariel Sibanda, Liberty Chirava, Nico Francis
Defenders: Lincolin Zvasiya, Qadr Amini, Blessing Chimwamuchere, Obey Mwerahari, Duncan Kalongonda, Charles Mutero, Knowledge Machona, Morris Kadzola
Midfielders: Joel Ngodzo, Abbas Amidu, Wellington Kamudyariwa, Timire Mamvura, Archford Gutu, Ngoni Maviri, Russel Madamombe, Trevor Mutero, Misheck Mburayi
Strikers: Mathew Rusike, Simba Sithole, Patrick Khumbula, William Manondo, Donald Ngoma, Ntokozo Tshuma.