Sports / Soccer
Young Warriors squad named
11 Nov 2014 at 08:32hrs | Views
ZIMBABWE Under-23 head coach Kalisto Pasuwa has named an 18-men squad with eight new faces including five foreign-based stars ahead of the international friendly match against Morocco scheduled for Saturday.
The practice match is set for November 15 - a day reserved by Fifa for international matches.
From overseas, Pasuwa has called up Munyaradzi Mbanje who plays in the United Kingdom for Leeds United academy, Northampton striker David Moyo, and teenage sensation Macauley Bonne of English League One side Colchester United.
Bonne was born in England to Zimbabwean parents and has not hidden his desire to play for the Warriors.
Marvellous Nakamba who plays for Netherlands topflight league side Vitesse and Mamelodi Sundowns winger Kuda Mahachi complete the cast of foreign-based players called up by Pasuwa.
But Zifa were reported to be still waiting for a response from highly-rated Everton defender Brendon Galloway - a summer signing from MK Dons. Galloway who can also play as a defensive midfielder, has represented England at Under-17- Under-18 and Under -19 levels and is touted as the brightest prospect for both club and country.
Pasuwa, however, has called up three home-based players- towering Bantu Rovers defender Teenage Hadebe, Shabanie Mine defender Douglas Sibanda and ZPC Kariba striker Tafadzwa Mavhunga.
Young Warriors team manager Patrick Mutesva said the coach had added eight new faces to the team that has been playing in the last two friendly matches against Botswana and Swaziland to give every one a chance in the rebuilding process.
"The reason for the continuous addition of more players into the team is to try to come up with a strong team that can compete by January next year. The coaches want to assess as many players as possible in their rebuilding exercise," said Mutesva.
Zimbabwe, who lost 1-0 to Botswana in their first international friendly this year before beating Swaziland 2-0 is using the friendly matches as a dress rehearsal for the Under-23 African Championships and the All-Africa Games qualifiers.
Pasuwa did not travel to Botswana and Swaziland, preferring to stay with his club Dynamos as his assistants were attending Caf course. Saul Chaminuka, the ZPC boss, took charge of the two matches.
The Young Warriors face Swaziland in Mbabane in the first round of the All-Africa Games qualifiers in February before hosting them in March for the second leg next year.
The winner between the two will then meet Cameroon in the second round. Pasuwa's men will also face Swaziland in the African Championship qualifying campaign in April and should they win the encounter they will face neighbours South Africa in the second round with Senegal awaiting in the third round should they triumph.
Squad:
B Donovan, T Mukuruva, B Moyo, T Hadebe, D Sibanda, R Pfumbidzai, M Nakamba, P Mpelele, T Chimwemwe, G Nyoni, T Mavhunga, C Rusere, C Mukanhairi, K Mahachi, B Macauley, M Mbanje, D Moyo, E Mandiranga
The practice match is set for November 15 - a day reserved by Fifa for international matches.
From overseas, Pasuwa has called up Munyaradzi Mbanje who plays in the United Kingdom for Leeds United academy, Northampton striker David Moyo, and teenage sensation Macauley Bonne of English League One side Colchester United.
Bonne was born in England to Zimbabwean parents and has not hidden his desire to play for the Warriors.
Marvellous Nakamba who plays for Netherlands topflight league side Vitesse and Mamelodi Sundowns winger Kuda Mahachi complete the cast of foreign-based players called up by Pasuwa.
But Zifa were reported to be still waiting for a response from highly-rated Everton defender Brendon Galloway - a summer signing from MK Dons. Galloway who can also play as a defensive midfielder, has represented England at Under-17- Under-18 and Under -19 levels and is touted as the brightest prospect for both club and country.
Pasuwa, however, has called up three home-based players- towering Bantu Rovers defender Teenage Hadebe, Shabanie Mine defender Douglas Sibanda and ZPC Kariba striker Tafadzwa Mavhunga.
Young Warriors team manager Patrick Mutesva said the coach had added eight new faces to the team that has been playing in the last two friendly matches against Botswana and Swaziland to give every one a chance in the rebuilding process.
"The reason for the continuous addition of more players into the team is to try to come up with a strong team that can compete by January next year. The coaches want to assess as many players as possible in their rebuilding exercise," said Mutesva.
Zimbabwe, who lost 1-0 to Botswana in their first international friendly this year before beating Swaziland 2-0 is using the friendly matches as a dress rehearsal for the Under-23 African Championships and the All-Africa Games qualifiers.
Pasuwa did not travel to Botswana and Swaziland, preferring to stay with his club Dynamos as his assistants were attending Caf course. Saul Chaminuka, the ZPC boss, took charge of the two matches.
The Young Warriors face Swaziland in Mbabane in the first round of the All-Africa Games qualifiers in February before hosting them in March for the second leg next year.
The winner between the two will then meet Cameroon in the second round. Pasuwa's men will also face Swaziland in the African Championship qualifying campaign in April and should they win the encounter they will face neighbours South Africa in the second round with Senegal awaiting in the third round should they triumph.
Squad:
B Donovan, T Mukuruva, B Moyo, T Hadebe, D Sibanda, R Pfumbidzai, M Nakamba, P Mpelele, T Chimwemwe, G Nyoni, T Mavhunga, C Rusere, C Mukanhairi, K Mahachi, B Macauley, M Mbanje, D Moyo, E Mandiranga
Source - Southern Eye
