adminRicky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIFA are making frantic efforts to entice the country’s representatives in the Orange Caf Confederation Cup, FC Platinum, to agree to a friendly game with the Young Warriors at Mandava Stadium on January 31. A hectic schedule lies ahead for the Young Warriors while FC Platinum are left with three weeks before they embark on their journey to the less prestigious of the two Caf clubs’ competitions away to Kenya’s Sofapaka on February 13.
FC Platinum are yet to play any training matches to test their level of preparedness, cancelling their last weekend’s international friendly with Power Dynamos of Zambia.
They were also supposed to play host to Bantu Rovers at Mandava tomorrow but the game has since been put on ice due to the fundraising dinner that the club will host in Harare at the weekend.
Playing the Young Warriors who are also hard pressed to round up their preparations for All-Africa Games and African Under-23 Championships qualifiers where the continent’s top three will earn tickets to the 2016 Rio Olympics will certainly give FC Platinum a good run.
“The national Under-23 technical team has asked us to seek a friendly game with FC Platinum which is cost effective for Zifa. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that they agree to our request which we believe will benefit both sides,” said Zifa spokesman Xolisani Gwesela.
For the qualification events for the Rio 2016 Olympics, all countries are limited to using players born on or after January 1, 1993. No over-age players will be permitted to participate in any qualification matches with those that will make it for Brazil allowed a maximum of three players born before January 1, 1993.
Zimbabwe face Swaziland in the first round of the All-Africa Games qualifiers on the weekend of February 20-22 away in Mbabane before the return leg in Harare two weeks later.
Should they clear the hurdle, the Young Warriors should brace for a stern test against Cameroon in the second round.
Online Reporter