adminfrom the fact that all semi-finalists are guaranteed places at the World Cup to be held in United Arab Emirates six months after the competitions.
The Under-17 side remains the country’s most successful national side having qualified for the continental finals a record three times — 1997, 1999 and 2005.
The team trooped into camp last week with its players drawn from across the country’s 10 provinces, after nationwide trials held between the month of June and July.
This squad has been training together for the past month before they trooped into camp but their coach Lloyd Chigove is worried for not taking part in an international friendly.
“We wanted to have played an international friendly before engaging Mozambique but it failed to materialise and we now need to be geared up for the match,” said Chigove.
“The friendly match would have exposed these youngsters to what they should expect in continental football since most of them are making their debut at this level.
“We have since left it behind us and we have shifted our focus to the Mozambique match.
“We are organising friendly matches with some strong Division One teams and the youngsters are showing a lot of potential.
“We have played BN Academy and beat them 7-1, we drew 2-2 against DC Academy and we expecting to play one or two more friendlies before our match on Saturday,” said Chigove.
Head coach Chigove, together with his assistant Agent Sawu and Gift Kagogoda, will name their final 18 tomorrow after the afternoon workout session.
The Young Warriors will be marking a welcome return to the continental football after a long period on the sidelines following the withdrawal of all youth national teams by the previous Zifa board. Last month their U-20 counterparts, failed to fulfill a second leg away fixture against Angola in their quest for a place at the U-20 Youth Championships due to lack of funds.
The winner between Zimbabwe and Mozambique will face Congo Brazzaville in the second round of the qualifiers.
Online Reporter