Botswana, Zimbabwe gear for COSAFA opener

MQONDISI DUBE
Staff Writer | Thursday November 25, 2010 00:00

 

The Zimbabwe team went to camp yesterday, while Botswana players have been in camp for three weeks. The Zimbabweans have said at one stage, Ndlovu, who coached in Botswana for three seasons, will be engaged to help the team.

Ndlovu is the acting Zimbabwe senior team coach.

The Young Warriors and Young Zebras are in the same group with Swaziland and Malawi. They open the tournament with what should be an explosive clash at the UB Stadium in Gaborone at 6pm.

The Young Zebras are under the guidance of China Matlhaku who said their preparations have been hampered by the ongoing Premier League games and school examinations.

'Preparations are underway although we have been disturbed by exams and the Premier League games as we have to constantly release players. Effectively we are training three times a week,' he said.

Twenty-three players, including Maikano Maikano from Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Simisane Mathumo (Township Rollers), Kaelo Kgaswane (Gaborone United), Lemogang Maswena (Notwane) and Boitshoko Sikele (BMC) are in camp. Uniao Flamengo Santos defender, Thato 'Yellow' Bolweleng is not part of the squad as his dispute with the club remains unsolved.

Matlhaku said he is aware of the threat that Zimbabwe and Malawi pose, although it would be difficult to gauge the performance of their junior teams.

He said the target is to better last year's third place finish. Former Rollers striker, Aubrey Kebonnetse captained the side to some shock wins on the way to a podium finish in South Africa.

According media reports, Zimbabwe has taken 40 players into camp. The squad will be trimmed to 18 before the tournament starts next week.

'All the players we have in camp are active at their clubs. We drew players from the Premiership, Division One and secondary schools. What is required is that since it's a tournament, we need players who are playing at their clubs or school teams who produce results,' team manager, Eddie Chivero told the state-run Herald yesterday.

Chivero said the Zebras' good run in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers shows the game is on the rise in Botswana. He said Zimbabwe is worried about its first game against the hosts in the COSAFA tournament.

Meanwhile reports say that Malawi has withdrawn from the tournament. In Group B, South Africa will face Lesotho and Namibia while in Group C, defending champions, Zambia contend with Mauritius and Angola. Group D has Madagascar, Mozambique and Seychelles. The top team from each of the four groups progress to the semi-finals.

The tournament will take place outside South Africa for the first time. It runs from December 3-12 in Gaborone, with the UB Stadium and Molepolole Sports Complex as the venues.