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Petros Kausiyo Harare Bureau
HOSTS Congo have named a strong 20-man squad for the 2015 African Games tournament in which they are in the same group with Zimbabwe’s Young Warriors.

While it has emerged that the Young Warriors, who could not call on any of their foreign-based players such as Marvelous Nakamba, actually face the prospects of being hit by player withdrawals with some clubs like Dynamos intending to hold onto their players, the Congolese are not taking chances as they seek to make a huge impact on home soil.

Although the Games will burst into life on September 3, the Young Warriors, who are part of Team Zimbabwe, will begin their campaign with a date against Burkina Faso four days later.

Sources close to the goings on in the Young Warriors camp revealed last night that Premiership champions Dynamos were reluctant to release goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva and midfielder Carlos Rusere for a lengthy period.

There are already doubts over the availability of another Dynamos player — defender Blessing Moyo — who is nursing an injury that will rule him out of the opening game against Burkina Faso although he is expected to have recovered in time for the second match.

Bulawayo giants Highlanders are also said to be reluctant to allow striker Knox Mutizwa to go as are FC Platinum who also have players in the Young Warriors.

Young Warriors coach Callisto Pasuwa was also forced to look for replacements for such players like Thomas Chideu, Liberty Chakoroma, Wisdom Mutasa, Ronald Pfumbidzai and Tino Kadewere, who recently left to join clubs in South Africa and Europe.

But there are no such worries for Congo’s head coach Claude Le Roy who has had the luxury of calling on all the best players he can assemble for the hosts.

According to reports from Brazzaville, Le Roy has decided to draw his best Under-23 arsenal from across the world as the Central Africans seek to host and win the men’s football tournament at the 11th edition of the multi-sport competition set to come off in Brazzaville.

The experienced trainer has named four of his young stars who participated in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations — unattached goalkeeper Christoffer Mafoumbi, Pavelh Ndizla, Sagesse Babélé and Atoni Mavoungou in the Diables Rouges roster that will be competing in Group A alongside Sudan, Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso.

The star-studded Congo Under-23 squad is made up of 10 locals dominated by local giants AC Leopards who have four players making the mark.

Hosts Congo will open the men’s football competition against Sudan at 1PM GMT (3pm CAT) on September 7 before games against Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe within three days interval respectively.

Meanwhile, Team Zimbabwe went into camp at Belvedere Teachers College yesterday ahead of their expected presentation to Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Andrew Langa by the Sport and Recreation Commission this morning.

Langa yesterday said it would be his task to then present the country’s athletes and officials for “send off either by President Robert Mugabe or any of his Vice Presidents’’.

“In the event that it’s not possible to hold a send off ceremony with His Excellency or the Vice President tomorrow (today), they can always receive the team when they return,’’ Langa said.

Langa is also expected to leave for Congo later today to attend a Council of Ministers meeting that will precede the start of the Games.

The Games are held under the auspices of the African Union for which President Robert Mugabe is the current chair. Team Zimbabwe deputy chef de mission Joe Rugwete said they had arranged the camp to ensure the athletes and officials from various disciplines and associations get to bond before they leave for Brazzaville.

The camp comes as the government on Friday reiterated its commitment to ensuring a successful tour for Team Zimbabwe by availing a further $118,000 to offset part of the budgetary deficit, which the Sport and Recreation Commission had been battling to raise.

The government had earlier in the week released $450, 000 to the team Zimbabwe will be sending athletes to compete in 11 disciplines.

Rugwete said yesterday apart from enabling the athletes and officials drawn from different associations to familiarise with each other, they would use the camp to introduce the code of conduct for the team.

Congo’s Squad:

Henri Christoffer Mafoumbi, Pavelh Ndzila (Etoile du Congo), Cosme Atoni Mavoungou (Diables Noirs), Thomaso Romaric Etou (Beitar — Israel), Varel Rozan (Kenitra — Morocco), Sagesse Babélé (AC Leopards), Carof Bakoua (AC Leopards), Ravi Tsouka Dozi (Crotone — Italy), Bersyl Obassi Ngatsongo. (Etoile du Congo), Merveil Ndockyt (CARA), Julsy Boukama Kaya (Recreativo do Libolo — Angola), Mavis Tchibota Dufounou (Maccabi — Israel), Yhoan Andzouana (Monaco — France), Junior Makiesse Mouzita. (AC Leopards), Justalain Moise Nkounkou (Etoile du Congo), Durel Bel Daniel Avounou (Caen — France), Georges Kader Bidimbou (AC Leopards), Noël Christ Mokouka (AS Cheminot), Sylvère Ganvoula Mboussy (Eligispor — Turkey), Franck Nioby (Olympique St Quentin — France)