IN arguably the biggest rivalries in women football in the Southern region of Africa, Zimbabwe and South Africa will once again resume their enmity, this time on the Under-20 level, when the two countries meet in the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games opener at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow afternoon.
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Regarded as the “Big two Sisters” of the region, the two nations have met on regular occasions with very little separating them every time they clash.
Their last meeting was in July this year at Rufaro Stadium when Banyana Banyana, who were preparing for the Namibia African Women’s Championship finals fielded a very strong side in that encounter, while the Mighty Warriors, who were preparing for the (AUSC) Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games sent out a very young and experimental squad.
The match ended in a goalless draw.
In that game, the Mighty Warriors used a number of players under the age of 20, who now forms the core of the current Young Warriors seeking to conquer the region at these games.
Among them is Mavis Chirandu, the team’s captain and a regular in the senior side, Vimbai Mharadzi, Greata Bande, Mercy Marowa and Ethel Chinyengetere.
The Young Mighty Warriors team is coached by Sithethelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda, who has publicly singled out today’s opponent South Africa’s Basetsana and Namibia as her biggest worries in the four-team group which also include neighbours Botswana.
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Speaking to this newspaper, Sibanda said: “As a home team, we want to play and go all the way to the final although most of our players are lacking in international exposure than their counterparts from South Africa and Namibia,”
Other notable faces in the Young Mighty Warriors squad are Lincie Mpaya, Felistus Muchekenyi, goalkeeper Sukoluhle Ndlovu, Chido Muhara, Gracious Mageza, with the later having been called to the senior national team before.
The organisers of the tournament yesterday said the big match, which had been brought forward to cater for other games, will kick off at 1530hrs.
It had initially been scheduled for 1930hrs.
In a statement, the organisers said: “The opening game sees hosts Zimbabwe tackle old foes South Africa on Thursday (today) at the Barbourfields Stadium in an evening kick-off at 1530hrs. Teams collect three points for a win and one for a draw and the side with the most points at the end of the mini-league fixtures on December 9 will be crowned champions.”
Zambia are the defending champions, but will not be able to defend their title as the Young Shepolopolo Queens failed to make the trip to Bulawayo.
This year’s edition would be played in a round robin format with the top team winning in the mini-league grabbing gold.
Meanwhile, The Young Mighty Warriors’ male counterparts, the Young Warriors kick off their Group A campaign tomorrow against Mozambique at the same venue. Besides Zimbabwe who are the top seed, the group also features Mozambique, Swaziland, Angola and Malawi while Group B has defending champions South Africa, Zambia, Lesotho Namibia.
The other clashes will see Angola take on Malawi at the same venue at 1830hrs, while at the same time Zambia and Lesotho meet across town at Luveve Stadium.
The top two teams in each pool advance to the semifinals, which will be played on December 12.
Six Zimbabwean referees Brighton Chimene, Philani Ncube (men) Tambudzai Tavengwa (women) and assistants Venancio Zulu, Victor Kambadzo (men) and Faith Mloyi (women) will officiate at the games among referees from all the other participating nations.
Junior Men’s Tournament
Tomorrow: Angola v Malawi (Barbourfields), Zambia v Lesotho (Luveve) – 1830hrs Saturday: Namibia v Zambia (Luveve) – 1400hrs, Zimbabwe v Mozambique (Barbourfields) – 1630hrs, South Africa v Lesotho (Luveve) – 1630hrs, Swaziland v Angola (Barbourfields) 1900hrs Junior Women’s Tournament
Tomorrow: Zimbabwe v South Africa (Barbourfields) – 1530hrs Saturday: Botswana v Namibia (Luveve) – 1600hrs
