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Mandla Mpofu

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
NGEZI Platinum goalkeeper Nelson Chadya will skipper the Zimbabwe Under-20 Cosafa Championships squad during the 2016 tournament that gets underway today at the Moruleng Stadium in South Africa.

The Young Warriors take on Zambia at 4.30PM and the coaches are looking at a winning start so that the boys will gain confidence.

“We have given the armband to Chadya. He has leadership qualities and is a great motivator,” said head coach Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu in a brief interview from South Africa yesterday.

The Ngezi Platinum shot stopper is also an understudy in the senior national team and remains a good prospect if he keeps his head low.

Mpofu said today’s game was a must-win for the nation as it will settle their nerves ahead of the last Group B fixture against Malawi on Friday.

“We must win, no doubt about that as it will give the boys confidence and self belief,” said Mpofu who will be assisted by Triangle United’s Biggie Zuze.

There are four groups in the tournament, Group A and C made up of four teams while Group B and D have three teams each.

The teams will play each other in a round-robin format with the top sides from each pool advancing to the semifinals.

One twist is that the top teams in Groups B and D after the second round of matches will play a third game as a crossover fixture between those two pools to ensure that most competing sides get to play three times.

The top team in Group B will play the second team in Group D and vice-versa.

The third-place play-off and final of the competition will both be played on December 16, which is a public holiday in South Africa.

Two venues, the Mogwase Stadium and Moruleng Stadium will be used for the tournament with the latter being used exclusively from the semifinals onwards.

Zambia have been the most successful side in the history of the Championships with 10 victories to their name, followed by Zimbabwe with six.

South Africa have claimed five titles with Madagascar the only other team to lift the trophy after their 2005 triumph.

In the last edition of the tournament in 2013, Zimbabwe beat Swaziland 2-1 through goals by Walter Musona and Teenage Hadebe in their first match before drilling three goals without reply past Botswana. Carlos Rusere, Liberty Chakoroma and Musona were on target. Their last qualifications round saw them drawing 1-1 with Mozambique with now Sweden-based Tinotenda Kadewere on target for the Young Warriors.

The performance was enough to see Zimbabwe qualifying for the semifinals where they lost 4-2 to South Africa on penalties.

Meanwhile, agents from Netherlands are reportedly set to watch Zimbabwe’s matches, beginning with today’s encounter.

@Skhumoyo2000