ZIM UNDER-20 FOR COSAFA

Fungai Muderere

WITH a rich legacy and a hunger to reclaim past dominance, Zimbabwe’s Under-20 side heads to Windhoek as the COSAFA Men’s Championship returns to the Region 5 Games from July 4–13.

Zimbabwe were among the founding participants of the tournament back in 1983 and quickly established themselves as a regional powerhouse, winning three of the first nine editions.

As the tournament returns to the Region 5 Games platform, the country’s football faithful will be watching closely, hopeful that a new generation can emulate the achievements of legends like Tinashe Nengomasha and Onismor Bhasera, who both used the COSAFA stage to launch successful careers.

The 2024 edition of the COSAFA Men’s Under-20 Championship was won by South Africa in Mozambique.

They went on to lift the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, underlining the importance of this tournament in preparing players for elite competition.

While this year’s edition is not a qualifier for the continental showpiece, held biennially, it still serves as a critical arena for showcasing and nurturing Southern Africa’s emerging stars.

Running through the list of players who have passed through COSAFA’s U-20 ranks is like reading a roll call of Southern African greats.

Zambia’s Clifford Mulenga and Isaac Chansa, as well as Malawi’s Jimmy Zakazaka, are further evidence of the tournament’s role in developing cross border prospects and creating pathways to international football careers.

The COSAFA U-20 tournament began in 1983 as a modest affair featuring Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, and Botswana.

Zimbabwe and Zambia dominated the early years.

Zambia won six of the first nine tournaments, while Zimbabwe took three titles, including the 1985 and 1988 editions.

South Africa would only break the duopoly in 2000 after losing in the 1995 and 1999 finals.

By 1999, South Africa took over as hosts, centralising the tournament until 2009. Yet, results remained unpredictable.

Madagascar stunned the region in 2005, lifting the trophy after beating Lesotho 1–0 in the final. Lesotho again impressed in 2013 with a strong run to the decider.

This year, Zimbabwe’s youthful squad will aim to rewrite the script.

For them, and for many others across the region, the COSAFA U-20 Championship is more than just a tournament.

It’s a stepping stone. A stage. A dream.

Above all, it remains a cornerstone of football development in Southern Africa, where emerging talent meets the kind of pressure and opportunity that forges stars.