The Zimbabwe Under-20 soccer team will be seeking to brush Angola aside in their bid to qualify for their first-ever African Youth Championships when they clash in the second round of the qualifiers at Rufaro Stadium tomorrow.
While the Under-17 soccer team, the Under-23 team and the Warriors have all qualified for the continental tournaments qualification at this level has remained stubbornly elusive for the Under-20 soccer team now under the guidance of Jairos Tapera despite having a number of stars.
The Under-20 team has only managed to take part in regional Cosafa championships having participated in the regional championships in Botswana last year.
And now they have to clear the Angola hurdle before facing either Kenya or Egypt for the final qualifier in September to earn a seat at the African Youth Championships to be staged in Algeria next year. But despite a seemingly treacherous route to the championships, Tapera and his assistant George Madira believe they have a squad capable of making it to the finals.
I am confident that we will qualify. We have exciting youngsters in this team, said Madira. Some of the players the Young Warriors technical team will be banking on include skipper Willard Kalongoda who turns out for Premier Soccer League side Harare City, Aces Youth Academy midfielder Walter Musona and Highlanders Knox Mtizwa.
Gunners midfielder Farai Madira and Black Mambas goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga are some of the stars who will be carrying the nations hopes.
The Angola squad are expected in Harare this morning.
