Zimpapers Logo

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S Under-23 football team will not break camp as they look to intensify their preparation ahead of the return leg of the CAF Under-23 Championships second round qualifier in Swaziland this week.

Team manager Sharif Mussa said despite the financial challenges that have threatened the nation’s Olympic dream, the technical team will not leave a stone unturned this week.

The Young Warriors face a difficult task against the backdrop of the chaos that characterised the preparations for first leg when players were randomly withdrawn from camp by their clubs to feature in the weekend Premiership games.

“Of course we are all a bit saddened by the fact that we couldn’t capitalise on the opportunity to win at home but remember this is a two-legged affair and we still have the other half to play.

“So we are hoping to turn things around when we go there.

“The return leg is this Sunday so we are continuing in camp. We had a light training today (Yesterday) and we will look to intensify the preparations as the week progresses. “You know the circumstances we are in but we will do our best under the conditions. Again, as you know last week some players were taken away from camp and the coaches obviously would love to have them back in the fold again.

“Basically the bulk of the squad that featured in the first leg will remain but the coaches might look at other options to see if there are any other players who could be added.

“It’s an issue of looking at what we want and what we have at the moment. We are not hoping for the same things that happened last week to happen again this week,” said Mussa.

He said they wanted to have Kuda Mahachi joining the Young Warriors squad after the Mamelodi Sundowns hotshot missed training last week attending to his sick child. The Young Warriors are expected to leave on Friday.

Swaziland coach Caleb Ngwenya said a draw was a good result for his side.

The Swazi team has taken this campaign seriously and their team has been holding training camp since the beginning of the year as part of the preparations. Ngwenya said his boys showed character and were now looking forward to the return match at home.

“It was a very tough match against Zimbabwe Under-23. The Zimbabwe boys are very strong. They really pushed us but my boys showed character and sustained the pressure.