Sports Reporter
THE Young Warriors began trooping into camp yesterday and are expected to start training this morning ahead of their return leg against South Africa in the last qualifying round of the Africa Under-23 Championship on Saturday evening at Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg. The team which wins from this last round of qualifiers will qualify for the Championships in Senegal in December with the top three teams qualifying automatically for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Zimbabwe are seeking an away victory or a scoring draw by, at least, two goals to cancel the 1-1 result they got at Rufaro a week ago.

The Young Warriors are scheduled to fly to South Africa on Thursday and ZIFA spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said they were making efforts to fly instead of travelling by road.

But while the Under-23 national soccer team are yet to get down to business, with about half of the team having reported for duty in the early hours of yesterday evening as they were still trooping in from their bases after weekend league matches, the South Africans upped their preparations and are set to play Rwanda in a friendly match in Johannesburg tonight.

South Africa coach Owen da Gama told the media that they were not resting on their laurels.

“We are not going to take anything for granted in the return leg. Yes, we have done half the job but we need to complete the task on Saturday evening,” said da Gama.

The coach added up some more players who were not part of the team which came to Harare for the first leg.

SuperSport United’s Andile Fikizolo, Brondby’s Lebogang Phiri and Ludwe Mpakumpaku of Cape Town All Stars have been drafted into the Amaglug glug squad.

Yesterday, Pasuwa released a provisional squad of 20 players which is however, subject to change.

Some of the players that were called into the camp for the first leg ended up missing the match as they had gone for trials.

In the first leg, former CAPS United defender Ronald Pfumbidzayi, who has since been snapped up by Denmark side Hobro Ik, was also in the team as well as Tinotenda Kadewere who is in Europe for trials with a number of clubs while Liberty Chakoroma was trying his luck at Free State Stars.

Zimbabwe have a tough task at hand as they are seeking to overpower the South Africans in their backyard after they were outplayed by Amaglug glug at Rufaro. Both teams drew 1-1 with FC Platinum midfielder Walter Musona equalizing through a penalty after South Africa had went ahead through Ajax Cape Town Keegan Dolly goal.

The hosts in that match were dominated in all departments especially the midfield. But the Young Warriors would be hoping to get their homework right in the reverse tie by getting an early goal and maybe use the away goal rules to their advantage by scoring at least two goals.

Squads

Zimbabwe: Tatenda Mukuruva, Blessing Moyo, Carlos Rusere (Dynamos), Donovan Bernard, Mcgini Sibanda (How Mine), Lawrence Mhlanga, Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Chicken Inn), Teenage Hadebe, Knox Mtizwa (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), Thomas Chideu (Ajax Cape Town)

South Africa:
Goalkeepers: Ludwe MPAKUMPAKU (Cape Town All Stars), Ricardo GOSS (Golden Arrows), Jody FEBRUARY (Ajax Cape Town).

Defenders: Tshepo RHIKOTSO (Bloemfontein Celtic), Kwanda MNGONYAMA (Mamelodi Sundowns), Motjeka MADISHA (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thabo MAKHELE (Witbank Spurs), Tebogo MOERANE (Bidvest Wits), Zitha MACHEKE (Chippa United), Siyabonga ZULU (Platinum Stars).

Midfielders: Ayabulela KONQOBE (Ajax Cape Town), Abbubaker MOBARA (Ajax Cape Town), Keagan DOLLY (Mamelodi Sundowns), Gift MOTUPA (Orlando Pirates), Jino MOEKETSI (SuperSport United), Phumlane NTSHANGASE (Bidvest Wits), Maphosa MODIBA (Mpumalanga Black Aces), Riyaad NORODIEN (Ajax Cape Town), Lebogang PHIRI (Brondby IF, Denmark).

Strikers: Siphiwe KAMBULE (Highlands Park), Andile FIKIZOLO (SuperSport United), Siphelele NTSHANGASE.

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