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Warriors get bye in Cosafa draw

Sport
ZIMBABWE have avoided hosts and 2012 African Cup of Nations champions Zambia after they were given a bye into the second round of the Cosafa Castle Cup tournament draw conducted yesterday.

ZIMBABWE have avoided hosts and 2012 African Cup of Nations champions Zambia after they were given a bye into the second round of the Cosafa Castle Cup tournament draw conducted yesterday.

The Cosafa tournament is set for Zambia in July.

Zimbabwe, who are the defending champions after winning the last edition in 2009, are one of the seeded teams based on their rankings in Africa and in the world. They are ranked 98 in the world and 25 in Africa.

Zimbabwe defeated Zambia 3-1 at Rufaro Stadium in Harare in 2009 to lift the prestigious regional tournament. Since then, the regional tournament has not been held due to lack of sponsorship.

But it returns this year with East African sides Kenya and Tanzania also set to participate after they were given special invitations.

Angola, Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique and Malawi have also been given a bye into the knockout round, meaning these teams cannot face each other at this stage of the tournament.

A delegation from Cosafa headed by Chief Operations Officer Sue Destombes was in Zambia last week on an inspection visit of facilities ahead of the 2013 Cosafa Cup set to kick off from July 6-21.

The party visited the three venues in Lusaka, Ndola and Kabwe, but for some minor refurbishments at the latter venue, are wholly satisfied that the preparations are well on track for the regional showpiece.

The delegation arrived in Zambia on Tuesday last week and stayed until Saturday.

“Ndola and Lusaka were first-class, with the Railway Stadium in Kabwe just needing some minor refurbishment to bring it up to international standard,” Destombes says.

“Ndola is an excellent facility, while Lusaka was recently upgraded for the Zone VI Games held in Zambia and so those two venues are ready. Overall, the state of preparedness for the Cosafa Cup is very good. Our visit went predictably well.”

Football Association of Zambia secretary-general and chief executive officer George Kasengele said the country was ready to host a successful event. “Our commitment to organising and hosting a successful tournament is unquestionable.

This regional championship will demonstrate our commitment and ability to organise even bigger championships and our campaign for the 2019 Africa Cup will be further boosted by what will be a successful Cosafa championship in July.

“All the parties are committed and come July, we will have a very successful tournament which will yet be the best ever hosted,” Kasengele said.

The locally-based Warriors fell 2-0 to Zambia in an international friendly match in Lusaka last week.

It was coach Klaus Dieter Pagels’ second defeat in three games in charge of the national team after seeing off Botswana 2-1 back in February before losing narrowly 1-2 to Egypt in a 2014 World Cup qualifier in March.

All 14 competing nations have been confirmed for the tournament.

The draw for the first round pool stages will be made in Lusaka on May 3.

Teams with a bye to the Knock-out Round are: Zambia, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi