HARARE Zimbabwes Under-23 soccer side will face South Africa's Amajita in a friendly match at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo today. South Africa is taking part in the Olympic Games qualifiers for London 2012 and want to use the friendly match as preparations for the games.
Zimbabwe has withdrawn the Young Warriors from the Olympic qualifiers. Coach Philani Ncube and Darlington Dodo are set to field a team in the 2011 All-Africa Games qualifiers against Amajita.
Dodo said playing against Amajita was a good opportunity for the Young Warriors to assess their squad and make improvements ahead of the All-Africa games.
“This is a very good opportunity for us (playing against Amajita). It will give us the chance to look at players we would want to field for the All-Africa games,” he said.
South Africa had through their senior coach Pitso Mosimane requested to play the Warriors in South Africa on Wednesday as part of the two teams African Cup of Nations preparations but the Warriors turned down the invitation as some of the foreign based Warriors had not arrived by Tuesday.
ZIFA however, agreed to assist their southern neighbours by arranging a clash between the two countries Under-23 sides.
“The South Africans wanted us to come over to South Africa for a match and it was also going to help us in our preparations.
“But as some of the foreign based were still coming in, it was going to be difficult to move then.
“It would have been easier if South Africa wanted to come here but they wanted us to come over their side,”said ZIFA board member in charge of competitions Bennedict Moyo.
Moyo said the Under-23 team should make the best out of this game after missing on an invitation to play at a tournament in Egypt in July.
Post published in: Football