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THE Young Warriors flew into Cameroon yesterday but they will not train at the match venue today as the hosts say the stadium will be used by their women national team in their assignment against Ethiopia this afternoon.
The Zimbabwe Under-23 team have since been told that the stadium will only be accessible tomorrow morning, a few hours before the crucial All-Africa Games second leg qualifier.
One of the Young Warriors coaches said they would have wanted to train at the match venue.
“There were no hassles from the airport except for the stadium, they are saying we can only train there on Sunday morning because their girls are playing there tomorrow,” said the coach.
“For now that is the situation though they promised to come back to us,”
The team left Harare International Airport early yesterday morning aboard a Kenyan Airways passenger plane and were in Nairobi around mid-morning before connecting a flight to Cameroon.
ZIFA communications manager, Xolisani Gwesela, said all was in order in Yaounde.
“The guys are already in Cameroon, they arrived safely and are now acclimatising before training tomorrow,” Gwesela said last night.
The Young Warriors carry a slender 1-0 win heading into tomorrow’s battle which will be handled by Senegalese officials, Daouda Gueye, Seigne Toure and Nouha Bangoura.
Captain Wisdom Mutasa said they will give it their best shot in Yaounde.
“We have been training this week and the new and the old players are happy that we will go to represent our country,” said Mutasa.
“We also want to qualify for the All-Africa Games and we know that it is going to be tough in Cameroon.
“We beat them here but we know when we are playing away it is very difficult and a lot of things happen.
“But coach (Callisto) Pasuwa told us to believe in ourselves, to rise up to the occasion and show what we can do.
“It is going to be a tough match but we will try our best.”
The skipper scored the solitary goal in the first leg at Rufaro.
Pasuwa goes into battle with a second-string side after failing to get some of the key players he would have wanted for this crucial match.
Meanwhile, reports from Cameroon media say their team was ready to make a big statement tomorrow.
Coach Pierre Ndjili has called Ajax Amsterdam goalkeeper Andre Ako to boost the squad.
Young Warriors Delegation
Players: Wisdom Mutasa, Tatenda Mukuruva, Blessing Moyo, Carlos Rusere, Praise Tonha, Malvin Gaki, Takava Mawaya, Prichard Mpelele, Marshal Mudewe, Jimmy Konono, Livingstone Genty, Munyaradzi Nyenye, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Lawrence Mhlanga, Liberty Chakoroma, Gerald Takwara, Qobizitha Masuku, Mgcini Sibanda.
Officials: Callisto Pasuwa(coach), Nation Dube (assistant), Saul Chaminuka (assistant), Tembo Chuma (goalkeepers’ coach), Pio Mhizha (kit assistant), Gilbert Saika (HOD).
Online Reporter