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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
SOUTH African Premier Soccer League giants Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Kudakwashe Mahachi has ruled himself out of Sunday’s Young Warriors Africa Under-23 Youth Championships and Olympics Games qualifier against Swaziland due to pressing personal commitments.

The talented left-footed midfielder, who is in the country as the South African PSL is in off-season, was expected to be among Zimbabwe’s Under-23 trump cards for the return leg in Swaziland after a lacklustre goalless draw in the first encounter at Rufaro Stadium in Harare last Sunday.

Coach Callisto Pasuwa’s charges will now have to make do without the talented midfielder for the decisive fixture in Mbabane.

The Young Warriors were also unable to get the services of Netherlands-based Marvellous Nakamba and the England-based Macaulley Bonne.

“Representing your country is every player’s dream and believe you me, I wanted to be part of the Young Warriors and help the team qualify, but I’m not in the right frame of mind because my child is not feeling well. I have to be there for my child and see that he gets the best treatment. I spoke to the manager (Sharif Mussa) and he understands what I’m going through,” said Mahachi.

The former Bantu Rovers, Chicken Inn and Highlanders winger is, however, confident that the Young Warriors will beat Swaziland.

“I know the guys will do well. They are a talented group capable of upsetting Swaziland in their backyard. The desire to do well and make it to the finals is what is driving the players and I wish them the best.”

In the absence of Mahachi, Ronald Pfumbidzai, who was expected to join camp yesterday evening having returned from a trial stint in Sweden, is among the seasoned players who will lead the Young Warriors into battle.

In the event that Zimbabwe beat Swaziland, they will face South Africa in the final qualifying round with the winners booking a ticket for the finals in Senegal. The top-three placed teams at the Senegal tournament will automatically qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Brazil while the fourth placed will be involved in a play-off with a team from the Asian Football Confederation.

Pasuwa’s preparations for the Africa Under-23 Youth Championships and Olympics Games have been shoddy with most clubs reluctant to release their players arguing that the qualifiers fall outside the Fifa calendar for international matches.

The Young Warriors technical team welcomed back into camp Dynamos defender Blessing Moyo and goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva, Chicken Inn central defender Lawrence “Dazzy” Mhlanga, Hwange’s Pritchard Mpelele and FC Platinum’s Marshall Mudehwe, who joined camp on Tuesday.

Other Young Warriors with international experience in camp include striker Mgcini Sibanda, Nqobizitha Masuku, Teenage Hadebe, Tino Kadewere, Kevin Moyo and skipper Wisdom Mutasa.

The technical team is confident that the team will progress to the next round, having seen Zimbabwe gallantly knocking out Cameroon from the All-Africa Games.

“Surely these boys have done well under prevailing circumstances. The association doesn’t have money and sometimes being in camp demoralises the boys but they’ve shown great commitment. Looking at the way they are applying themselves, everyone is confident that we will beat Swaziland on Sunday,” Mussa said.

The Young Warriors leave the country for Mbabane tomorrow.

Squad

Tatenda Mukuruva, Takabva Mawaya, Blessing Moyo, Lawrence Mhlanga, Munyaradzi Nyenye, Teenage Hadebe, Liberty Chakoroma, Gerald Takwara, Wisdom Mutasa, Nqobizitha Masuku, Marlvin Gaki, Carlos Rusere, Mgcini Sibanda, Kelvin Moyo, Thomas Chideu, Tatenda Mudehwe, Tino Kadewere, Pritchard Mphelele, Emmanuel Mandiranga.