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Harare Bureau
Botswana 1-0 Young Warriors
THE Young Warriors turned prey for the Zebras when a lapse in concentration in the second half saw them losing to the hosts in an international friendly at the National Stadium in Gaborone yesterday.

The national Under-23 team were undone when they failed to clear a corner kick which beat goalkeeper Donavan Bernard of How Mine.

The match was part of the country’s Independence Day activities as Botswana celebrates 48 years of freedom.

Before the goal, Zimbabwe felt hard done by the South African referee who denied them what team manager Patrick Mutesva deemed a genuine penalty.

“We lost after Botswana got their goal straight from a corner kick in the 73rd minute. Our players failed to concentrate. A few minutes before the goal we were denied a clear penalty, maybe because they wanted the hosts to win as part of celebration,” said Mutesva.

“But despite the defeat, I think the guys gave a good impression of themselves, considering that this was their first match together. The guys only trained together on Monday when we held two sessions and they barely knew each other.”

Zimbabwe had eight players who featured at the Cosafa Under-20 Championship last year and Muteswa was part of the technical team that went to Lesotho.

“I do not buy the notion that these guys knew each other because they played at Cosafa last year.

“Cosafa was in December and it has been 11 months since they played together.

“The technical team has changed and the coaches need time to know the strengths and weaknesses of the players,” said Muteswa.

Shabanie Mine coach Jairos Tapera led the team in Lesotho but yesterday ZPC Kariba head coach Saul Chaminuka was holding fort.

Donavan started in goals while Blessing Moyo operated on the right side of the defence and skipper Ronald Pfumbidzai played as the leftback.

Liberty Chakoroma and Kelvin Moyo completed the defence.

Wisdom Mutasa, Walter Musona, Carlos Rusere and Nqobizitha Masuku were the midfielders while the Highlanders duo of Gabriel Nyoni and Knox Mutizwa were the forwards.

Chaminuka used all the players with the exception of Tatenda Mukuruva and Lawrence Mhlanga.