Under-23 coach Phiri to spy on South Africa

By The NewsDay | Jun. 16, 2011 | 2 Min read

Under-23 coach Friday Phiri left the country for Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday where he will spy on that country’s national Under-23 side’s clash with Benin Saturday. Amaglug-glug, as the South African junior national soccer side is known, face the West African nation in the second round of the 2012 London Olympics Games at the Rand […]

Under-23 coach Friday Phiri left the country for Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday where he will spy on that country’s national Under-23 side’s clash with Benin Saturday.

Amaglug-glug, as the South African junior national soccer side is known, face the West African nation in the second round of the 2012 London Olympics Games at the Rand Stadium. The hosts are chasing a 3-1 deficit.

The Young Warriors will then clash with the same South African side at the Sinaba Stadium in Johannesburg next week in the Zone VI All-Africa Games final round first leg qualifier and it seems the Zimbabwean technical team does not want to leave any stone unturned ahead of the game.

Zifa Thursday dispatched Phiri to the neighbouring country so that he could check on the opposition before the crucial encounter.

Young Warriors team manager Wellington Mpandare yesterday confirmed the developments to NewsDay Sport.

“Coach Friday Phiri left for South Africa soon after the morning training session. Phiri’s visit there is more of a spying mission and it’s a normal trend in the world over where a coach has to spy on the opposition to prepare accordingly.

“The coach needs to know the system that the South Africans are using, remember these guys (South Africa) have been together for a long time,” added Mpandare.

The Young Warriors had their last training session at Gwanzurawhere they played Premiership side Blue Ribbon before breaking to pave way for the Castle Lager Soccer League weekend programme.

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For the third day, assistant coach Darlington Dodo was not present at training as he was reported to be in Botswana while injured Archford Gutu watched from the stands.

Striker Mathew Rusike and Joel Ngodzo, who could not join the other players in camp this week, are expected on Monday when the team resumes training.

Warriors striker Ovidy Karuru is also expected on the same day.