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GOLDEN BOYS . . . Coach Chamu Musanhu (standing, far left) poses for a group photo with his Team Zimbabwe UK Under-17 side after they beat Morocco in the final of the African Cup of Nations UK Under-17 Youth Tournament in London on Sunday

Collin Matiza Sports Editor
TEAM Zimbabwe UK’s Under-17 soccer team are the 2016 African Cup of Nations (UK) champions. Coached by former Dynamos defence stalwart Chamu Musanhu, Team Zimbabwe UK Under-17 team outplayed Nigeria 2-0 in the semi-finals on Saturday before beating Morocco 3-1 on penalties in the final on Sunday after the two teams were deadlocked 1-1 in regulation time.

Musanhu was over the moon on Sunday after helping Team Zimbabwe UK Under-17 team to be crowned the “African junior champions.” The youth soccer tournament attracted 20 teams and was played over two weekends.

“The boys really did everyone and themselves proud by winning this tournament; and I just can’t describe the feeling because everyone here is just happy and I even lost my voice during the celebrations on Sunday.

“Our penalty takers in the final were Seth Patrick, Panashe Roberts, Shekinnah Chipfatsura and Wilson Chingoka. Seth missed his penalty and Kudakwashe Mdianyama didn’t get to take his as his twin brother Simbarashe saved Morocco’s penalties to finish the contest 3-1 in our favour,” Musanhu told The Herald from his base in Liverpool yesterday.

“There is this boy, Seth Patrick, he was our most outstanding player. He is really a good player and he plays for Northampton FC’s academy. He is a midfielder and was outstanding especially in the semi-final against Nigeria and then there’s Wilson Chingoka who was the man-of-the-match against Morocco in the final.

“He is a holding midfielder . . . He’s just an amazing player. I think both these players — Patrick and Chingoka — can even play for our senior national team — the Warriors,” Musanhu added.

The former Dynamos and Warriors defender equated Sunday’s victory to the day he featured for DeMbare in the African Champions League final against Asec Mimosa of Cote d’Ivoire in 1998.

“I think to me winning the tournament was as good as playing (for Dynamos) in the Champions League final against Asec Mimosa in 1998 considering the fact that this youth project was only started this year and myself, (fellow coaches) Trevor Mazhande, Kennedy Chihuri and Martin Chirimuuta worked hard to bring these kids together. My best game was against Nigeria (in the semi-final on Saturday). This was the best game I’ve ever seen. We totally outclassed Nigeria who won this tournament last year and were odds-on favourites this year, but we outclassed them in every department.

“And I think we need to take these kids seriously and even consider them for whatever is going to happen in Zimbabwe (in the future) . . . I’m talking about the Under-23s and senior team because this Seth Patrick, who plays for Northampton FC Academy, is really good and he was our captain and there is also Wilson Chingoka . . . I think these two kids should be considered for our senior national team.

“I think (Warriors coach Callisto) Pasuwa needs to have a look at them. I’ve seen enough of them and I think they can play for the senior national team (in Zimbabwe). All of them are good, but I think these two are really, really good,” Musanhu said.

The Under-17 team is a project of Team Zimbabwe UK whose chairman is Liberty Masunda, the former striker of the now-defunct Premiership soccer side Blackpool. Masunda runs the project with fellow UK-based Zimbabwean Marshall Gore. And former Warriors striker Alois Bunjira yesterday sent a congratulatory message to Gore following the Under-17 team’s victory over Morocco on Sunday.

“Congratulations to the Zimbabwe U17 and Team Zimbabwe UK on winning the African Cup of Nations UK. Well done Marshall Gore . . . Great initiative. I wish the authorities (here in Zimbabwe) could ride on this and take advantage,” said Bunjira.

“If I had my way, I would have a Zimbabwe Under-17 South Africa, Zimbabwe Under-17 Australia, Zimbabwe Under-17 USA, Zimbabwe Under-17 Europe and Zimbabwe Under-17 Zimbabwe and get them into a tournament in Zimbabwe and then we select the best possible Zimbabwe Under-17 squad.”