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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
AN 18-member Zimbabwe Under-23 squad flew out of Harare yesterday via South Africa enroute to Botswana for an international friendly against the Zebras set for the national stadium today.The match is part of Botswana’s independence celebrations while Zimbabwe is using the game as part of their preparations for the 2015 Democratic Republic of Congo Under-23 African Championship, 2015 Congo All Africa Games and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Qualifiers of the Under-23 African Championship begin in April 2015.
“We’re leaving today (yesterday). The boys are all in camp and Hwange’s Nation Dube and ZPC Kariba’s Tembo Chuma are in charge of the boys while Chuma’s colleague Saul Chaminuka will leave soon after his team’s league match against Highlanders this afternoon (yesterday),” said Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela yesterday.
Head coach Callisto Pasuwa is in Egypt for a Fifa training programme for national team coaches and a review of the just ended World Cup.
After today’s match, the Young Warriors are expected to have a couple of friendly matches as they countdown to their first round match for the DRC qualifiers against Swaziland.
They will play against Tanzania on October 8 before engaging Morocco on November 16.
A victory over Swaziland, which is largely expected, will set the Under-23s a date against South Africa with the winner in the match meeting Senegal.
Fifa has set October 25 as the deadline to register teams for the Olympic qualifiers. The Olympic Games calls for players born on or after January 1, 1993.
The final 18 man squad
Donovan Bernard (How Mine), Mukuruva Tatenda (Dynamos), Moyo Blessing (Dynamos), Tonha Praise (Triangle), Chakoroma Liberty (Buffaloes), Moyo Kelvin Njabulo (FC Platinum), Mhlanga Lawrence (Chicken Inn), Mavunga Keith Tafadzwa (ZPC Kariba), Pfumbidzayi Tapiwa Ronald (Caps United), Masuku Nqobizitha (Bantu Rovers), Mutasa Wisdom (FC Platinum), Muzondiwa Brian (Black Rhinos), Musona Walter (FC Platinum), Mandiringa Emmanuel (How Mine), Kutinyu Tafadzwa (Bantu Rovers), Nyoni Gabriel (Highlanders), Mutizwa Knox (Highlanders), Rusere Carlos Rodwell (DC Academy)
FULL DRAW
First round: Libya v Mauritania, Ghana v Liberia, Botswana v Kenya, Zimbabwe v Swaziland, Guinea-Bissau v Sierra Leone, Rwanda v Somalia
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