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Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
YOUNG Warriors new head coach Mandla Mpofu is relishing his task ahead of the team’s 2017 African Under-20 Championships qualifier against Cameroon in Yaounde on Sunday.

Mpofu took over from Jairos Tapera, who has moved to South Africa to join Division One side Black Leopards.

The Young Warriors were held to a goalless draw in the first leg. Mpofu will be assisted by Under-17 coach Tafadzwa Mashiri.

“I have been with this group since 2010 and I think we have done well as a country and I have learnt a lot,” said Mpofu.

“I know it is a pressure job but my responsibility is to develop and feed players into the national team. If you look at our senior national team, you will see that most of them came from this group and I have worked with them before.

“I know people want results and we will try and get the results but the most important thing is we must bring these players to a level where they play for the senior national team.”

The coach, who have retained the team which did duty in the previous match, added only more players, Denzel Khumalo and Learnmore Muyambo.

“I think we have just started well. We started on Monday and the boys are in good shape, just waiting for the big game,” said Mpofu.

“It is a big game as Cameroon are big boys in Africa but we are just motivated.

Squad

Nelson Chadya (Ngezi Platinum), Kelvin Shandiwa (Harare City), Lesley Lunga (Bantu Rovers), Bukhosi Ncube (Highlanders), Darryn Phiri (Triangle), Mathius Chodewa (Bantu Rovers), Patrick Musaka (Friendly Academy), Bukhosi Sibanda (Bantu Rovers), Blessing Sibanda (Tsholotsho), Learnmore Muyambo (Harare City), Peace Makaha (Dynamos), Leeroy Mavunga (Yadah FC), Blessing Nyamuzihwa (CAPS United, Amos Ncube (Chicken Inn), Denzel Khumalo (Bantu Rovers), Prince Dube (Highlanders), Obert Tofira (Friendly Academy), Munashe Kaseke (Malaga, Spain), Denzel Khumalo (Bantu Rovers).