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Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S Young Warriors were last night facing a massive player crisis ahead of their departure for Brazzaville for the African Games with Premiership champions Dynamos and league rivals FC Platinum reportedly withholding their players from national duty. The national Under-23 side were expected to fly out of Harare at dawn together with some members of Team Zimbabwe aboard a Kenyan Airways flight to Brazzaville.

But by late last night the 20-man Young Warriors squad were facing the prospects of travelling with just 14 players after both Dynamos and FC Platinum were understood to have ordered their players to stay put. It was the two clubs’ claims that they could not release their players on the basis that they had not received letters of request from the Team Zimbabwe management.

Dynamos have goalkeeper and skipper Tatenda Mukuruva, defender Blessing Moyo and midfielder Carlos Rusere in the squad while FC Platinum have the trio of newboy Gerald Takwara who joined mid-season from Tsholotsho, defender Kelvin Moyo and midfielder Marshal Mudehwe. Young Warriors manager Richard Tswatswa confirmed last night that they were having problems with the release of the players.

The veteran goalkeepers’ coach feared that the actions by Dynamos and Platinum could trigger more player withdrawals by other clubs. “As it stands we have six players who belong to Dynamos and FC Platinum and if they are now allowed to go that would mean we will only tale with 14 players. “We actually fear that the number might even decline if some clubs decide to follow suit.

“While the other players are in Harare we have Kelvin Moyo who was directed to return to Zvishavane have while on his way to join camp and will now not make it on time for the flight tonight. “We have referred the matter to the team management and they are engaging the clubs to find a solution but what I know is that we sent the letters of release a long time ago and every PSL club that was affected received their letters,’’ Tswatswa said.

Team Zimbabwe deputy chef de mission Joe Rugwete also confirmed that he was engaging the clubs late last night on the matter. Rugwete also said they were debating on whether to defer the Young Warriors departure or send them in batches to Congo. The national Under-23 side will begin their request for African Games honours with a date against Burkina Faso in a Group A assignment on September 7.

Zimbabwe are also in the same group with the hosts whose French coach Claude Le Roy has assembled a strong squad that draws players from European clubs.