HARARE Zimbabwean soccer prodigy Knowledge Musona Announcing a 31-man squad for the regional tournament to be held in South Africa Ndlovu said he was confident South African glamour side Kaiser Chiefs will release the 19-year-old Musona to lead his country at the championships. “We have communicated with Kaiser Chiefs and I am confident they will release him for the tournament. He will be the captain of the team. We expect him to join his team mates in camp next week,” said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu said the team will go into camp next week after which head coach Methembe Mayor Ndlovu will trim it down to 20 players. The supremely talented Musona has created waves in the South African Premiership with an outstanding performance for Kaizer Chiefs which has won him the praise of respected football analysts who believe the former Black Aces Youth Academy (BAYA) striker is the freshest thing to happen to Zimbabwean football.
Musona returns to the Young Warriors set up where he will re-unite with Khama Billiart his former strike partner at BAYA. The duos deadly combination terrorised defences in the Northern Region Division One league before Chiefs lured Musona to Johannesburg. Former Highlanders mentor Methembe Ndlovu will be hoping the two telepathic combination and deadly marksmanship will inspire the Young Warriors who failed to reach the just-ended World Cup finals in Egypt to lift the Cosafa Under-20 Championships.
The Young Warriors have done well in the tournament in the past, but have failed to translate their regional success onto the international front. The tournament runs from December 6 to November 15 and Methembe Ndlovus squad will also be looking to emulate their seniors who lifted the regional title for a record fourth time after walloping Zambia 3-1 in the final at Rufaro on November 1.
The Young Warriors are placed in Group C which includes Botswana and Lesotho.
Squad: G Chigova, L. Zvasiya, B Abbas Amidu (Aces Youth Academy), G Saungweme (Njube Sundowns); G Kwaramba (Shooting Stars); Q Amin (Gunners); E Nhono (Bantu Rovers); N Dube, M Nkiwane, P Zirenyi (Quelaton); T Rantokoane (Eagles); L Maphuya (Dynamos); R Madamombe (Monomotapa); S Nhivi (Masvingo United); R Makiwa, G Nyoni, M Nakamba, K Sibanda, T Charles, K Billiart (Aces Youth Academy); K Musona (Kaizer Chiefs); Y Chapfika (Sprouting); M Rusike (Pretoria University); T Kiyamba, B Rabvu, M Nkomo, A Tsekete (Masvingo United); N Ndale.
Post published in: Football