Nare relishes COSAFA Cup appearance

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Tuesday October 12, 2010 00:00

 

Indications are that the Under-23 will be sent to the tournament, which takes place a few days before the Zebras' crunch Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tunisia.  The COSAFA Cup will run from November 13-17 in Angola and the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia visit Gaborone for the return leg on November 19.

Nare's charges started the Olympic 2012 qualifiers with a 1-0 win over Namibia on Saturday. He is hoping that the COSAFA Cup will give his youngsters the much-needed exposure ahead of the return leg in December.  'South Africa are doing the same (sending junior team to COSAFA) and I believe that will be a good move because it gives the boys some exposure.

 It will be also good for me as a coach in terms of exposure at that stage. However, I have not been told that officially, but I have heard about it,' Nare told Mmegi Sport.The COSAFA tournament will be staged in the cities of Lubango and Benguela next month, venues that were used during the African Nations Cup early this year.

The national team coach, Stanley Tshosane, recently confirmed that the country will send a junior team for this year's COSAFA tournament.

'We will not be able to go for COSAFA because the tournament takes place between 13-17 November, which is a few days before our game against Tunisia. But we will send the Under-23 team because we need to be represented,' he said.

The Zebras had been tipped as the dark horses of this year's tournament after a good run in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.  The resurgent Zebras look set to make their maiden appearance at the biennial continental competition for the first time.

The Zebras are unbeaten in four matches, having won three and drawn once to head the standings with a 10-point haul. However, Tshosane believes the remaining matches will be tough and thorough preparations are necessary.   'Obviously the second round of the qualifiers will be a little tougher than the first round but the most important thing is to prepare adequately.  This is why I need the team to get a few friendly matches against tough opposition,' he said.