Sports Briefs

THE national U/19 Cricket team is set to lock horns with the host Malaysia, Pakistan and New Zealand in three of the 2008 International Cricket Council World Cup group A matches.

The national team left the country last Saturday and they will begin their campaign against the emerging powerhouses, New Zealand, next Monday, before they face the defending champions Pakistan and the hosts, Malaysia.

Under-19 Skipper, a Churchill schoolboy, Prince Masvaure, is expected to share his experience of last year’s showdown, in Sri Lanka, with the rest of the team mates who are making their international debut.

The side will be coached by Shepherd Makunura, former league giants -Takashinga- coach who is a veteran junior mentor.

Meanwhile, the much awaited ICC Women’s World Cup qualifiers, will explode into life next Monday, in Stellenbosch, South Africa, as Zimbabwe seek to grab one of the available two slots to the global showpiece, set for Australia, next year.

Zimbabwe women are faced with a tough assignment of beating Scotland in their first face-off of the World Cup campaign on Monday, before clashing with Pakistan and Ireland, in a potentially explosive encounter of the tournament’s Pool B.

Skippered by Julia Chibhabha, the national team will be tasked to emerge one of the top two teams in their four-team group, to progress to the semi-finals.

National Women’s Cricket manager, Chiedza Mafunga, believes Zimbabwe stand an equal chance of qualifying despite being novices on the international arena.

“The other teams are experienced and they have played together for some time, but the national team has what it takes to qualify, they have worked so hard and they stand a good chance,” said a confident Mafunga.

Under 19 Squad: Prince Masvaure (captain), Tinashe Chimbambo, Tendai Chitongo, Hughes Dinembiri, Justin Gaisord, Kyle Jarvis, Edzai Jaure, Daniel Landman, Tendai Mashonganyika, Stewart Matsika, Solomon Mire, Peter Moore, Tinotenda Mutsombotsi, Jabulo Ncube, Reginald Nehonde. Coach- Shepherd Makunura, Team manager Choucha Dilip

Women’s Squad: Julia Chibhabha (captain), Yvonne Rainsford (Vice Captain), Chipo Kamuchetsa, Susan Kudzibatira, Nonhlahla Nyathi (Wicket-keeper), Precious Marange, Sharyce Saili, Thandakwenkosi Nlilo, Sinikiwe Mpofu, Emily Jinjika, Sharme Mayers, Cristabell Chatonzwa, Ruvarashe Chinemba, Chipo Mugere.

Coach- Emmanuel Dube, Team manager- Joyce Chizano.

Highlanders, Dynamos clash

BITTER rivals, Highlanders and Dynamos drew 1-all in a drab first leg of the Nestle Charity Shield last Sunday at Barborfields stadium.

Highlanders who took the lead through Wellington Sibanda’s free-kick in the 62nd minute failed to hang on when the Harare giants, Dynamos’ new scout, Lazarus Muhoni came in with an equalizer.

The two teams will meet in Harare, next week, for the second leg as they compete for the Z$35 Billion to be awarded to the Champions by Nestle Zimbabwe.

De-mbare will travel to Swaziland for a face-off against Royal Leopards while Highlanders hosts Mozambique’s Ferrariovio de Nampula, this weekend, in the African Champions League matches.

Bosso’s technical manager, Mathembe Ndlovu, told The Zimbabwean his side’s performance last Sunday, “cannot be used as a measure” of how they will play, in the Champions league this weekend.

“Its unfortunate some of the players who we used for the Nestle Shield are not registered for the Champions League, but the league in Mozambique is almost the same with ours; we are going to do our best and make sure we win at home,” said a confident Ndlovu.

Before last weekend’s encounter, the Bulawayo giants played two international warm-up matches against Black Leopards of South Africa and Tafic of Botswana, where they drew nil-all and won 3-2, respectively.

Njodzi just misses Olympic time

ZIMBABWE runner Moses Njodzi just missed the Olympic Games qualifying standard time of 2 hours 15 minutes after an inspiring performance at the Durban Nedbank Marathon.  

Njodzi, who came fifth, was among the Zimbabwean contingent that included Abel Chimukoko, Marko Mambo and Collen Makaza at the race.

According to reports in South Africa a top three finish looked in sight for the country’s athletes as they were at the front from the beginning.

Njodzi, who prior to the race had a personal best of 2 hours 21 minutes, ran yesterday’s race in 2 hours 16 minutes 10 seconds.

He and most of the top 10 finishers did not feature in the leading pack of 20 in the first half marathon in which Mambo was prominent.

By the 12km mark, Mambo had done 36 minutes and on 21km he had been on the road for a good one hour 05 minutes.

With that pace hopes were high that the athletes would maintain their standard on a flat course and then increase speed in the last 5km towards the line.

For the South Africans in the field, the target was the stringent 2 hours 12 minutes set as the qualifying time for the Beijing Olympics.

Running the last 21km in 67 minutes would have seen some qualify but the leaders were surprisingly overtaken in the 24-28km stretch.

Njodzi and the eventual winner Mabotile Leboho of Lesotho, Moses Mosuhli, Cool Boy Ngamole and David Gadebe took over the proceedings.

 

ZIFA failure condemned

SENIOR National Team Head Coach Valinhos says he is hopeful ZIFA will manage to organise a match for his team on the next FIFA date for international friendlies which comes on the 26th of March.

The Warriors, who have been in camp since Sunday, have since left for their homes.

Their camping however had problems on the first day as they were refused permission to use the training facilities at Alexandra Sports Club after ZIFA failed to pay for the grounds.

The failure by ZIFA to organise a friendly match for the Warriors on Wednesday and pay for training facilities has also been condemned by soccer fans who have urged the local soccer controlling board to be serious when it comes to national team business.

The Warriors are in group 2 with Namibia, Guinea and Kenya.

Debut goal for Mwaruwari

BENJANI Mwaruwari scored on his debut for Manchester City on Sunday, after setting up Darius Vassell for the first goal.

After the match Benjani was quoted saying: “I would probably say this is the only game I have played in, and come out not feeling tired.”

City beat Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford, completing a rare league double over their city rivals.

Mwaruwari completed his move from Portsmouth to Manchester City last week. The transfer fee has been staggered into two payments of half that amount each, with the final payment due when the striker notches 70 games.