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Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
YOUNG WARRIORS coach Tafadzwa Mashiri has named a raw side for the Under-17 COSAFA Championships which begin next Thursday in Mauritius.

The 20-member final squad was selected from a pool of 50 players who went into camp last Friday.

Mashiri yesterday picked his troops, who are scheduled to leave on Sunday for the resort island.

“The selection process was not so easy given the limited time. These youngsters need more time to express themselves and come out of their shells,” he said.

“We are still working on the squad, a lot of things need to be covered and hopefully, by the time we leave we would have covered considerable ground.

“The players are drawn from schools and academies, range from 15 to 16 years, but they are all of school-going age.

“It’s raw talent, no experience, apart from what they got from schools tournaments.

“Our hope is to go past the group stages.

“The group is not easy, there are no longer small teams and all nations are doing very well in terms of junior development.

“But we will go there hoping to better our last year’s record.”

Zimbabwe are in Group C with Angola, Malawi and Swaziland.

Team

Goalkeepers: Malcolm Louis Tendayi Mapondera, Gerald Munashe Sibanda.

Defenders: Cossam Junior Bandason, Blessed Tafadzwa Dzingai, Malvern Soko, Macdonald Keith Tawanda, Malvern Hativagoni.

Midfielders: Onward Munashe Manyeruke, Ethan Simbarashe Moyo, John Hazem Bonomali, Simbarashe Terrence Madzivire, Wesley Tinotenda Chitsumba, Sibusiso Ishmael Moyo, Oscar Bhebhe.

Strikers: Tapiwa Mandinyenya, Tinotenda Faber Munengami, Thandolwenkosi Methuseli Ngwenya, Zubair Ali, Tanaka Element Matenga.