Paul Nyathi

Zimbabwe Warriors Under-20 coach, Tonderayi Ndiraya, has named his final team which is expected to leave tomorrow for the Cosafa Championships at the Nelson Mandela Bay in South Africa.

Following the embarrassment of the disqualification of the under 17 team last week over age cheating claims, the nation hopes that this time due diligence has been applied by the selectors.

The Young Warriors are scheduled to play the hosts, Amajita, in the opening match, on Thursday. The regional tournament runs from December 3 to 13 in Port Elizabeth.

The Young Warriors are in Group A together with South Africa, Lesotho and Mozambique. Below is the full list of the final squad and technical team.

Zimbabwe Squad:

Leeroy Bill Antonio,
Lexington Christiano Mujokoro,
Oscar Magejo,
Vanashe Menard Matsikidze,
Leeroy Munashe Pini,
Hilton Panashe Mutimbanyoka,
Tapiwa Mandinyenya,
Tanyaradzwa Tinotenda Benza,
Malvern Hativagoni,
Evans Shingirayi Binoni,
Peter Munashe Garananga,
Craig Tendayi Matindife,
Kelvin Mangiza,
Tadiwanashe Brandon Nyagurungo,
Matripples Muleya,
Peter Tinotenda Muringai,
Ocean Munashe Katondo,
Mcdonald Takunda Mkunga.

Zimbabwe Technical team:

Tonderayi Ndiraya (coach),
Mandla Mpofu (assistant coach),
Nesbert Saruchera (assistant coach),
Innocent Chogugudza (goalkeepers coach),
Patrick Mutesva (team manager),
Sheldron Patsika (physio),
Mthokozisi Moyo (doctor),
Sugar Chagonda (HOD).

Speaking ahead of the tournament, Ndiraya said it is difficult to bring the players into shape within 10 days since they have been inactive for about nine months after the suspension of sporting activities in March. He added:

Players get fit with more working hours. I am, however, happy that most of them had started early pre-season with their clubs and that gave us a good starting point.

He added that despite lack of enough preparations, the team goes into the tournament “with a lot of hope and, hopefully, we will get good results.”