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Zimbabwe/South Africa: Country's U-20 Face Mozambique in Cosafa Youth Tournament
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 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
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The Herald (Harare)
30 November 2007
Posted to the web 30 November 2007
Augustine Hwata
Harare
The Zimbabwe Under-20 soccer team are back in battle when they take on Mozambique in a Metropolitan Holdings/Cosafa Youth Tournament Group D tie at KaNyamazane in Mpumalanga, South Africa tomorrow.
Highlanders coach Methembe Ndlovu is in charge of the Young Warriors team that is seeking to make up for an image bruised by the Class of 2006 who staged a strike at Johannesburg's OR Tambo Airport following a standoff with Zifa over bonuses. Zifa reacted by disbanding the team, including the technical department that had Sammy Mavhenyengwa as head coach, assistant coach Abdul Karim and team manager Eddie Chivero. Ndlovu was only confirmed as head coach of the new Under-20 team last month and was given the task of coming up with the best possible squad in less than two weeks.
On Wednesday last week, the Under-20 players trooped into camp and Ndlovu had to break camp on Friday to release players for club duties. The players regrouped on Monday and left on a morning flight yesterday for South Africa to what will be Ndlovu's first job in overall charge of a national team. Ndlovu, who is being assisted by Masvingo United coach Taurai Mangwiro, has previously assisted former Warriors coach Charles Mhlauri in the senior team's failed attempt to qualify for the Ghana 2008 Nations Cup finals.
Despite being ill-prepared, Ndlovu is likely to count on the experience of goalkeeper Francis Nicho, Nqobile Mpala, Noel Soko, Knowlegde Musona, Ovidy Karuru, Tapiwa Mangezi and Darryl Nyandoro who have played at such an international level before. Musona, Soko, Karuru and Nicho are recent graduates from Under-17 team while Nyandoro and Mangezi were part of the team which boycotted the trip back home last year.
CAPS United's 2007 sensation Tafadzwa "Makanaka" Rusike has also won a place in the team and could be one of the players set to earn their first cap in the game against Mozambique. Ndlovu had initially included CAPS FC goalkeeper Ronald Mudimu and Shooting Stars defender Ronald Sengu but opted against travelling with the players after doubts emerged over their eligibility for the age-group tournament. Zimbabwe take a rest on Sunday but resume their campaign with a game against Reunion on Monday.
Squad
Goalkeeper: Tinashe Dzamba (Dynamos), Francis Nicho
Defenders: Noel Soko (Shooting Stars), Lawson Nkomo (Highlanders), Lawrence Gumede (Highlanders), Dominic Mukandi (Njube Sundowns), Andrew Railelo (Harare United), Guide Goddard (Highlanders),
Midfielders: Rex Mabeza (Chapungu), Ovidy Karuru (Masvingo United), Hardlife Mavundi (Masvingo United), Tafadzwa Rusike (CAPS United), Knowledge Musona (Aces Academy), Nyasha Takaruza
Strikers: Nqobile Mpala (Highlanders), Darryl Nyandoro (Eastern Lions), Tapiwa Mangezi (Gunners), Thabani Kamusoko (Highlanders), T. Maziwise
Officials:
Head coach: Methembe Ndlovu
Assistant coach: Taurai Mangwiro,
Team manager: Bekhi Ndlovu,
Physio: Nyamadzawo Mutandwa
Match official: Alfred Zindove
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HOD: Tendai Madzorera
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| Copyright © 2007 The Herald. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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