NATIONAL Under-17 team coach Lloyd Chigove will travel to Congo Brazzaville for the African Youth Championships second round, second leg, this Friday with a paralysed squad after six of his first team players excused themselves from the travelling party. Report by Henry Mhara Sports Reporter
Tatenda Mukuruva, Bastos Chihowa, Tino Kadewere, Tinashe Muza, Denzel Chimwemwe and Sean Kwaramba were all in the starting line-up for the Young Warriors in the first leg, but will be out of the decisive qualifier. They will be sitting for their Ordinary Level examinations this week.
The Young Warriors, who are trailing 2-1 from the first leg, are expected to leave for Brazzaville tomorrow for the match.
Chigove is obviously worried by the absence of the players, but still believes replacements are good enough. “Once you don’t believe as a coach then you have no business in the sport. I believe that these boys I have in camp will be able to turn the tables. After all, when we played them at home, they didn’t do much. They were just lucky to score those two goals. It was not much out of their creativity, so I believe it’s still possible to win in Congo,” said Chigove.
The team yesterday received a morale booster after a local clothing company Faith Wear donated sports bags and designer t-shirts worth over $1 000.
“As Faith Wear, we felt the need to come through and support our Under-17 team. We want them to take pride in where they come from and also to take pride in representing the country. With this token, we wish the team all the best as they seek to raise our great flag high,” said Faith Wear marketing officer Tafadzwa Moyo.
Young Warriors captain Calvin Bingala welcomed the gesture.
“We are very grateful for the donation. It will obviously lift the morale in the team and we are promising to make the nation proud,” said Bingala.
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This match was initially supposed to be played last Saturday, but Zifa appealed to Caf to move it to this weekend as the bulk of the players were still writing their exams.
Players in camp: T Munditi, T Chilenga, T Madadire, C Bingala, L Genti, A Muzambwa, A Tandi, J Ngulube, A Mpofu, N Munetsi, C Kapupurika, M Chodeva, N Makumbe, T Samuriwo, C Mavhurume, J Mubaira, L Tauzeni, S Mavuto, M Chigaba, K Mutandagari, D Chimwemwe, M Muza
