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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
YOUNG Warriors coach Callisto Pasuwa believes they are on the right path in building the future senior national team by exposing the teenage players to tough games. His team takes on a full-strength Morocco team in an international friendly at the Grand Stade de Agadir tomorrow.

“It is good that we are giving several players, who are young, an opportunity to prove themselves,” said Pasuwa.

“We only had a single training session before our departure for Morocco, but I am happy with the players as they showed a lot of interest in our project.

“The project should go a long way (in helping build a strong senior national team) and these players should be kept together for a long time.

“We have tried some combinations, during our workout, and I hope we will come out with a good team when we blend them with the foreign-based players.”

The national Under-23 coach said they wanted a good result in Morocco.

“As we are preparing for next year’s Olympic Games soccer qualifiers, we need to win the match so as to boost the young players’ confidence,” said Pasuwa.

“Most of the players have played competitive matches before and are getting experience; so, I believe they will deliver the goods in Morocco,” said Pasuwa.

Marvelous Nakamba will make his first appearance for the national team.

Exciting winger Kuda Mahachi of Mamelodi Sundowns, Northampton’s David Moyo, Munya Mbanje of Leeds United, Macauley Bonne of Colchester United are some of the foreign-based players in the team.

Morocco have named a strong squad dominated by Europe-based professionals, including Bayern Munich centre back Mehdi Benatia, for the international friendly.

Morocco also called up several players in Europe’s top leagues including Spain-based Issame El Adoua who stars for Levante and the duo of Nourdin Amrabat and Yassine Bounou, who plays for FC Malaga and Real Zaragoza in the Spanish La Liga, among a host of other foreign-based stars.

Young Warriors squad:

Tatenda Mukuruva (Dynamos) Benard Donovan (How Mine) Blessing Moyo (Dynamos) Teenage Hadebe (Bantu Rovers) Douglas Sibanda (Shabanie) Keith Tafadzwa Mavhunga (ZPC Kariba) Tapiwa Ronald Pfumbidzai (Caps United) Takudzwa Chimwemwe (Harare City) Emmanuel Kudakwashe Mandiranga (How Mine) Gabriel Nyoni (Highlanders) Carlos Rodwell Rusere (DC Academy) Pritchard Mpelele (Hwange) Tinashe Charles Mukanhairi (Caps United) Kudakwashe Mahachi (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa) Macauley Miles Bonne (Ipswich) Munyaradzi Mbanje (Leeds United, England) David Philani Moyo (Northampton, England) Marvelous Nakamba (Vitesse FC, Netherlands).