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ZIMBABWE are likely to use some of their foreign-based players for the COSAFA Castle Cup as they look to rekindle their rivalry with Swaziland and possibly Zambia in this year’s edition. The Warriors, who start in the preliminary stages again this year because of their poor ranking, got a fair draw on Thursday night when they were drawn in Group A which also features Swaziland, Seychelles and one of the surprise packages from 2015, Madagascar.

The winners of the group will meet Zambia in the quarter-finals.

Chipolopolo are one of the six top ranked countries that were exempted from the first round matches.

Group B contains Malawi, Angola, Lesotho and Mauritius while holders Namibia, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and Mozambique all got byes and will start at the quarter-final stage.

The COSAFA Cup will take place in Namibia from June 11-25.

ZIFA communications manager Xolisani Gwesela yesterday said they will give the technical team all the players they may request for the tournament depending on the availability.

While the tournament is used mainly to nurture future stars, this year’s edition was designed to allow nations to spread their nets to the foreign-based players most of whom will be off season at the time.

“We stand guided by the coaches. They’ll use their discretion as they usually do in all their team selections and we expect them to provide us with the names of the players they want in the coming weeks.

“Whichever players they need, as ZIFA we never abdicate from our responsibility to make sure that they get them for this tournament.

“We’re very happy to be participating in this tournament. We also take pride in being one of the teams that hold the distinction of being the most successful in this tournament,” said Gwesela.

Zimbabwe and Zambia are the most successful teams having won four titles apiece while Angola and South Africa have won it three times each.

However, the Warriors last year failed to make it past the first round stage after they were condemned to a second place finish in their group following a 4-1 thumping by eventual winners Namibia in the decisive pool match.

Holders and hosts Namibia will begin the defence of their title with a tricky quarter-final clash against Botswana.

The first round group stage will take up the first week of the tournament from June 11, with just the top team in each pool advancing to the quarter-finals.

Zambia and South Africa will face the winners of first round Groups A and B respectively.

The championship then continues in a knockout format, with the quarter-final losers dropping into the Plate competition that was first introduced in 2013 and last year was claimed by Malawi.

Only the Comoros Islands have opted not to compete from among the COSAFA nations and have been replaced by 2016 African Nations Championship winners and 2015 African Nations Cup bronze medalists, the Democratic Republic of Congo who face Mozambique in the quarter-finals.

“There are some hugely exciting matches for fans from all across the COSAFA region to enjoy and I know it’s going to be a fantastic tournament in Namibia, which is a wonderful host country.

“Our goal, as always, is to help develop the future stars of tomorrow and showcase the talent that exists within the Southern African region.

“The 2016 COSAFA Castle Cup has the potential to be the best yet and the draw has only added to the sense of anticipation ahead of the tournament,” said Timothy Shongwe, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the 2016 COSAFA Castle Cup.

COSAFA Castle Cup First Round Draw

Group A

Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Seychelles, Madagascar

Group B

Malawi, Angola, Lesotho, Mauritius

QUARTERFINAL DRAW

QF1 – South Africa vs Winner Group B

QF2 – Botswana vs Namibia

QF3 – Zambia vs Winner Group A

QF4 – DR Congo vs Mozambique