HARARE - The Young Warriors schedule for the Cosafa Under-20 tournament set for Botswana from December 3-12 is still a mystery even to the head coach, Taurai Mangwiro, who is yet to receive a letter of appointment from the countrys football mother board, ZIFA.
Mangwiro was appointed the Under-20 head coach last month and should be expected to lead the youthful side on his first international assignment in Botswana. Last week Zimbabwe was drawn in Group A of the tournament where they are expected to lock horns against the hosts, Swaziland and Malawi.
It is a tricky assignment for Mangwiro and his boys who will need to emerge as the top team in their group for qualification into the semi-finals, in the only Group with four nations. All other Groups will see three teams competing for the top spot. However, it is not the tough assignment awaiting his troops in Mbabane the Young Warriors head coach is concerned about, but whether he will get enough time to assemble his team and get them ready for the task.
I cant really comment much on the tournament because I have not yet received my letter of appointment from ZIFA, yes I have read about it (his appointment as Young Warriors coach) in the press, but I can only know and talk about the preparations after they (ZIFA) communicate with me, said Mangwiro.
The new ZIFA president, Cuthbert Dube, is yet to call for a press conference or comment on the issues unfolding in the board. A gloomy cloud hangs over the football board after the Warriors coach, Tom Saintfiets short appointment before he was deported out of the country for working without a permit. Also tarnishing the associations image is the shameful charge of match-fixing the Warriors are believed to have committed during an Asian tour under the auspices of the suspended Chief Executive Officer, Henrietta Rushwaya.
Zambia are the defending champions of the COSAFA Under-20 competition, after beating South Africa 1-0 in last years final. Zambia will be eyeing title defence in their Group C alongside Mauritius and Angola while South Africa face Lesotho and Namibia in Group B. Group D consist of Madagascar, Mozambique and Seychelles.
Post published in: Zimbabwe Sports News