The Under-20 national team were forced to find a new training ground yesterday when the artificial pitch at the ZIFA Village was stripped off.

The turf, which was installed from funding secured from FIFA, was auctioned five years ago to settle a debt owed to former ZIFA spokesperson, Nicky Dhlamini-Moyo.

It now belongs to Tynwald Secondary School. The Under-20 team, who are camped at the ZIFA Village, have been using the pitches there for their training sessions.

However, it all changed yesterday when the artificial surface was stripped off by those who bought it.

The Young Warriors, who are under the guidance of coach Tonderai Ndiraya, will compete at the COSAFA tournament, which again will be staged at the Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth, from December 3 to 13. They are in Group A, alongside hosts South Africa, Mozambique and Lesotho.

Zimbabwe last won the COSAFA championships in 2007.

However, the Young Warriors appear to have lost their way in recent years.

They were humiliated 1-5 by Zambia in South Africa in 2016 and, after a goalless draw against Malawi, crashed out in the first round.