RUSTENBURG Warriors goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini In an interview with The Zimbabwean, the Platinum Stars first choice goalkeeper, who is himself a product of the junior national team ranks, said that the senior national team had performed below the expectations of the nation this year and that hopes of winning any piece of silverware in 2010 now lay on the shoulders of the Young Warriors.
We (the Warriors) did not do well this season. To make it worse, we cannot defend our Cosafa title and this is very disappointing. We failed to win an African Cup of Nations qualifier that we played at home and this did not go down well with the fans, said Kapini.
Our Under 20 team has a chance to make sure that we do not finish the year empty handed. The Cosafa Youth tournament will also give them a chance to be spotted by talent scouts, he added.
The Young Warriors have been drawn in a tricky Group A that also includes hosts Botswana, Swaziland and Malawi. Group B is made up of South Africa, Lesotho and Namibia while defending champions Zambia, Mauritius and Angola have been placed in Group C. Mozambique, Seychelles and Madagascar the teams that make up Group D complete the teams that will be taking part in the youth tournament, which is being held outside South Africa for the first time since 1999.
While the Young Warriors are regarded among the giants in the region, Zambia, who have won an unprecedented eight Cosafa Youth titles, remains the clear favourite to win the tournament.
The top teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals of the competition, which will be held on December 22 at Molepolole while the third and fourth play offs will be decided at the University of Botswana on December 12. This match will be played four hours before the final which will be staged at the same venue.
Post published in: Football