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Eddie Chikamhi Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE’S Young Warriors were yesterday still sweating over the availability of key striker Thomas Chideu with chances high that he might not be available for the Caf Under-23 Championship qualifier against South Africa tomorrow night.

Chideu, who recently inked a contract with Ajax Cape Town, submitted his passport to the South Africa Embassy on Wednesday to apply for a work permit and the travel document had not been returned by yesterday.

Goalkeeper Donovan Bernard has also been ruled out with a shoulder injury, leaving Caps United’s Chris Mverechena to deputise first choice Tatenda Mukuruva.

Young Warriors played second fiddle to their opponents when they clashed at Rufaro but midfielder Carlos Rusere said they were not giving up hope.

“As long as we do what the coaches have been telling us there is no way we can’t match them and even overcome them.

“It’s a bit tough but we’re trying our best to come back home with a result. They (South Africa) aren’t invincible. If you look in the first game when we went at them in the second half we managed to crack them up going forward.

“The only problem was that we had concentrated too much on containing them and it was encouraging that by the time we attacked we got some scoring opportunities. So there is a chance if we go there and engage them in open play we can manage to score,” said Rusere.

The winner on Saturday evening will qualify for the Caf Under-23 Championship to be held in Senegal in December and the top three teams at that tournament get automatic tickets to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The South Africans continued with their preparations this week and on Tuesday night they fine-tuned with a 2-0 win over Rwanda in Johannesburg.

Their coach Owen Da Gama was impressed with the team’s performance which left him convinced they will be victorious.

However, the majority of the players who featured in the first leg are expected to be available including goalscorer Keagan Dolly, who was a handful to Pasuwa’s men, the author of their goal Siphelele Ntshangase, midfielder Abubaker Mobara, Siyabonga Zulu and captain Ishmael Mngonyama.

“The boys performed really well last week and we’ve a bit of an advantage because it’s our home game, that’s always important,” Da Gama told the South African media.

“They’re a well-oiled team, they’ve been together for some time so we’ll try and play our cards close to our chest.

“It’s basically the same team that we had in Zimbabwe but we added Phumlani Ntshangase from Wits, Gift Motupa from Pirates so I’m happy that those two are in.

“We’ve also got Andile Fikizolo from SuperSport and (Riyaad) Norodien obviously.

“It’s going to be a hell of a struggle to pick the final team,” said Da Gama.

The coach had wanted to add Denmark-based Lebogang Phiri to beef up his squad but his side Brondby refused to release him.