Team Zimbabwe UK Under 17 champions get invitation to Cosafa Tournament

THREE  players from the triumphant AFCON UK Under 17 squad have been invited to the provisional Moses Chunga coached squad to take part in the regional COSAFA Under 17 tournament which gets underway in Mauritius from July 21 to July 30.

Chunga recently assembled a 30 member provisional squad to take part in the COSAFA Under 17 tournament which began preparations for the tournament last week.



The Team Zimbabwe UK (Under 17)  newly crowned UK AFCON Champions are  coached by Trevor Mazhande and also includes former Zimbabwe international Kennedy Chihuri, Martin Chirimuuta and Kenny Mastanya in the technical team, retained the tournament after beating Morocco one nil  on Saturday in London. The game was played in front of a partisan Zimbabwe crowd and many scouts from various English league teams. The UK Young Warriors graced the pitch in fashion wearing the official golden yellow Zimbabwe National Team kit bought by their official kit sponsors Green-Shoot Specialised Care Services Limited, a Zimbabwean owned company. Green-Shoot are one of the biggest care services providers in the UK.

Team Zimbabwe UK Chief Executive Officer, Marshal Gore, who is also the chairman of the African Football Association, the organisation that runs the tournament said Chunga advised them to send three best players from the tournament. The arrangement is facilitated under an agreement reached by Zifa and Team Zimbabwe UK last year

"The national Under 17 coach Chunga has asked us to identify three players whom we can second to the provisional squad that is currently in camp for the COSAFA Under 17 tournament I have tasked the team's coach Trevor Mazhande to come up with the names. We are going to consult with the parents to find out those who have their passports ready due to the short time frame," he said.

Mazhande who is currently coaching at West Bromwich Albion FC  is going to choose from the list of players that includes Tatenda Kanyuchi, Itai Allan, Tyrone Sibanda, Wilson Chingoka, Bellamy Torindo, Tinotenda Masenda, Tinashe Gwavava, Panashe Roberts, Kudakwashe Mdyianyama, Simbarashe Mdyianyama, Martin Zulu, Dennis Tafara, Praise Gondo, Tawanda Ericson Mukambi, Ryan Makwenje, Prince Banda, Chad Abrams, Wayne Ndlovu, Anesu Mumbure.

The Zimbabwe AFCON Under 17 side, whose defence was marshalled by Chad Abams, Tinashe Gwavava, Wayne Ndlovu and Martin Zulu won without conceding a goal in open play.

Facing last year's opponents in the same competition, Zimbabwe won the match courtesy of Bestone Matabile's 80th minute solitary strike.

Team Zimbabwe Administrator Thomas Thomik confirmed that they are also in talks with their official sponsors Green-Shoot Specialised Care Services Limited and Felicia Munjaidi Head of Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) London Office negotiating for assistance with sourcing air tickets for the three youngsters to travel to Zimbabwe through their airline partners.

Gore concluded by saying that "We are hoping to finalise everything with the Zifa President Philip Chiyangwa whom we are expecting in the United Kingdom this weekend. There is so much talent in the Diaspora community and it is our hope that the three players will be able to travel to Zimbabwe and eventually represents the country in Mauritius,"  

Chunga has been on a hunt for the best young talent, but admitted that the time frame was not enough to come up with a team that is a true reflection of what Zimbabwe has to offer.

Zimbabwe has been absent from this age group tournament for a number of years.
Zimbabwe are yet to win the regional Under-17 championship and will hopeful of winning a first title in Mauritius whom they are pooled together in Group A together with Malawi and Botswana, .

They play Mauritius on July 22 before taking on Malawi two days later. Their last group match is against Botswana on July 26.

The other group comprises of Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique and Madagascar.