Young Warriors Get Easy COSAFA Draw

The Young Warriors are in Group D alongside Angola, Namibia and Madagascar in a group where the top two qualify for the quarter finals.

The COSAFA Youth Championships will run from December 1 to December 10 and Zimbabwe will quick start their campaign against Namibia on December 2, before engaging their biggest challengers in the group Angola on December 5. They will conclude their first round assignments against Madagascar on December 6.

All in all 15 countries are battling for the trophy which is safely in the hands of Zambia who are in a group that also features South Africa, Tanzania, and Mauritius.

Young Warriors coach Taurai Mangwiro says he is happy with the draw but has asked Zifa to give him more time with the team in camp if the Young Warriors are to realise their dream of winning the regional tournament as well if they are to do well in other international engagements.
Zifa Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Mashingaidze says the Young Warriors will be using the tournament to prepare for the forthcoming World Championship qualifiers where the team has been entered to participate by the soccer controlling body.

Mashingaidze has revealed that apart from the Under 20 team, they have also entered the Under 23 side as well as the Mighty Warriors in international tournaments as Zimbabwe seeks to make an impression in international football.

The Under 23 side was not registered in the ongoing 2012 London Olympic qualifiers due to financial constraints while the Mighty Warriors are back in international football after missing out for three years on the same financial reason.

The Zimbabwe senior men’s team, the Warriors and the Mighty Warriors are the holders of the COSAFA titles. The Warriors won the trophy in 2009 while the women’s team won the championship this year.