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Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
YOUNG Warriors skipper Wisdom Mutasa says the Zimbabwe Under-23 side will need superhuman efforts when they go out in a crucial battle to keep their Olympics dream alive against their South African counterparts this evening. The Zimbabweans were held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the CAF Under-23 Championships at Rufaro two weeks ago and will be looking to turn the tables by beating the hosts or securing a scoring draw of two or more goals to sail through courtesy of the away goals rule.

Only 90 minutes stand between them and their destiny at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.

They need a lot of divine intervention, though, given the way the South Africans flaunted themselves when they came here for the first leg and how they have been going about their preparations in comparison to Callisto Pasuwa’s men.

“What happened in the first leg is now behind us, we are carrying a positive mind into this game. We are looking forward to the game,” said Mutasa.

“We gave them too much room when they came here and they got into the groove. At the end of the day they got a goal and a draw.

“So, if we can close them down, there is a good chance of us getting a result.”

Unlike the Amagluglug, who were in camp for two weeks and then wrapped up with an international friendly against Rwanda this week, the Young Warriors did not have smooth preparations.

As has become the norm with all national teams’ preparations, there were disturbances that rocked their camp this week, including a strike by the players over ZIFA’s failure to provide proper lunch on Wednesday.

The team had to train the first two days without head coach Pasuwa, who indicated that he will be leading the side in his last assignment this evening.

Pasuwa said he will step down tonight after failing to find common ground with his employers at ZIFA who owe him substantive amounts in unpaid salaries and bonuses from last year.

However, Mutasa said they will need to put everything behind them and try to concentrate.

“The message to my teammates is that ‘guys, let’s go and fight the way we have always done.’ We need to try and look for a goal and hopefully things will be okay after the 90 minutes.

“Obviously, the South Africans are playing at home and have the 12th man behind them in form of their supporters.

“So, we need to make it difficult for them to play around with the ball so that we silence their supporters and neutralise the atmosphere,” said Mutasa.

The team flew out to South Africa in the afternoon yesterday.

The Young Warriors were initially scheduled to leave at 7am, but their flight was delayed by almost seven hours and they only got to Johannesburg late in the afternoon.

ZIFA communications manager Xolisani Gwesela said they were supposed to connect to Pietermaritzburg at 12:45pm, but following the delay they were now expected to get the connecting flight to the match venue around 6pm.

“There were some delays after we were told by the Airline that they had rescheduled the flight to 11am. But then they couldn’t leave that time.

“They finally left at 2pm and then they will get the connecting flight to Pietermaritzburg at around 6pm.

“The good thing is we were constantly in communication with SAFA and believe everything will be taken care of in South Africa,” said Gwesela.

There were reports that their scheduled flight did not have Jet A1 fuel for the morning trip, which meant that the Young Warriors could only travel in the afternoon.

The tickets for the trip were provided by FC Platinum Holdings.

Pasuwa will have a largely unchanged side for the tie, except for goalkeeper Donovan Bernard who failed to make the trip because of a shoulder injury and striker Thomas Chideu.

The Ajax Cape Town-bound forward could not get his passport back in time after submitting it at the South Africa High Commission in Harare to apply for a work permit ahead of his move to his new team.

The good news, though, is that Mamelodi Sundowns agreed to release winger Kuda Mahachi for the match and he is expected to hook up with his compatriots in South Africa.

Meanwhile, South Africa Under-23 striker Siphelele Ntshangase said the hosts were looking beyond their match against Zimbabwe.

The winners between the neighbours will earn a place at the eight-nation CAF Under-23 Championship to be held in Senegal from November 28 to December 12.

The top three finishers at the continental event will compete at Rio 2016.

Ntshangase told the SAFA website that they are ready to go all the way.

“We are in a very good position to progress to Senegal and once we get to Senegal, anything is possible; it is anyone’s game,” said Ntshangase.

“Let me tell you something, there is this camaraderie within the camp; that burning desire to leave a lasting impression for the country and going to the Olympics in Rio, Brazil. Players are aware that by doing so, it will catapult most of our careers to the next level.

“We want, when football fans look back, to talk of the Class of 2015 that went to the Olympics. We all have this collective feeling that this is the group that will do it.

“We are so determined, hungry and all fired-up to achieve something for the country.

“It will be good for the country, good for our families, good for our respective careers and above all change the face of South African football,” he said.

Zimbabwe squad:
Tatenda Mukuruva, Blessing Moyo, Carlos Rusere (Dynamos), Criss Mverechena (CAPS United), Mgcini Sibanda (How Mine), Lawrence Mhlanga, Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Chicken Inn), Teenage Hadebe, Knox Mutizwa (Highlanders), John Takwara, Wisdom Mutasa, Walter Musona (FC Platinum), Praise Tonha, Malvin Gaki (Triangle), Farai Madhananga (Flame Lily), Jimmy Konono (Whawha), Kuda Mahachi (Mamelodi Sundowns).