Young Warriors miss regulars for friendly against Zambia

By The NewsDay | Oct. 5, 2012 | 2 Min read

THE national Under 17 men football team leaves for Zambia this morning by road for a friendly match without five of their regular players.

REPORT BY HENRY MHARA SPORTS REPORTER

Guinea Fowl High School’s trio of Bastos Chihowa, Cleopas Kapurika and Kelvin Sibanda have been barred from travelling by their school while Tino Kadewere and Ali Machingura are down with sickness.

The Gweru-based school reportedly refused to release the players so that they would participate in a schools national tournament.

Young Warriors coach Lloyd Chigove is gutted.

“Where on earth have school tournaments superseded national duty? It’s every child’s dream to play for the national team, but this school has denied these boys that opportunity,” fumed Chigove yesterday.

“We have been trying to talk to the school authorities and we even sent the team manager to talk to the headmaster, but he could not have any of it. He said he want them to play in a schools competition at Elite High School on Friday (today),” he added.

Chigove has retained the bulk of the 18 players that won in Mozambique in the previous round.

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The players that have been called in to fill in are James Ngulube, Tafadzwa Samuriwo, Andrew Tandi, Munashe Muza and Arnold Mpofu.

Also added to the travelling squad are Langton Chakuchichi, Emmanuel Mandiranga and Blessing Fireyi.

The Warriors are using the match to prepare for their Africa Youth Championships second round first leg match against Congo in Harare next week.

The Young Warriors qualified for the second round after their 4-2 aggregate win over Mozambique in the first round qualifier.

Travelling squad: T Mukuruva, T Munditi, C Mavhurume, L Jenti, N Munetsi, K Bingala, E Mandiranga, B Amidu, D Chimwemwe, S Kwaranika, K Mutangadari, M Choreva, A Mpofu, J Ngulube, T Samuriwo, N Makumbe, V Tadzoka, A Tandi, L Chakuchichi, M Muza, B Fireyi, S Nkala,