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Bekithemba ‘Super’ Ndlovu

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Young Warriors trooped into camp yesterday to start preparations for the 2017 Mopani Copper Mines Cosafa Under-20 Championship from December 6-16 in Zambia.

How Mine assistant coach Bekithemba Ndlovu and his assistant Mark Mathe of Caps United are in charge of the team and they have called up a 29-member squad that will camp in Harare until departure for Zambia.

The Young Warriors will be hoping to go all the way to the final and lift their seventh regional title in a bid to narrow the gap with Zambia, who are the most successful nation in the history of the Cosafa Under-20 Championship with 11 victories.

Ndlovu said they will trim the squad to 20 just before departure.

“We have been holding training sessions here in Bulawayo, while my colleague Mathe has been doing the same in Harare. So we are now going to merge the two squads and use the four days to trim it to 20, which is the required number that has to travel,” said Ndlovu.

The former Highlanders’ centre-back said they will try their best to represent the country well at the tournament and not just add to the numbers.

“We will try our level best as we represent our country. We are going there to compete and not to add to the numbers. We are aware that it’s not going to be easy, but as you know that a warrior is someone who fights; that is what we will do,” Ndlovu said.

The Young Warriors are in Group C together with Angola, Lesotho and Namibia.

Provisional Young Warriors squad
Goalkeepers: Onil Benson (ZPC Kariba), Reward Muza (Chicken Inn), Issah Ali (Caps United)

Defenders: Bukhosi Ncube (Highlanders), Mbongiseni Ndlovu (Highlanders), Nyasha Garayi (Bantu Rovers), Kudzashe Dzingwe (Bantu Rovers), Nkosana Ndlovu (Highlanders), Terrance Daka (Aces Youth Academy) Collins Mujuru (Aces Youth Academy), Denzel Taderera (Shabanie Mine), Davison Ncube (Chapungu)

Midfielders: Enock Karembo (Yadah Stars), Malvin Kwinjo (Ngezi Platinum Stars), Nivholas Guyo (Aces Youth Academy), Leroy Mavunga (Yadah Stars), Blessing Nyamuzihwa (ZPC Kariba), Shadreck Nyahwa (Bantu Rovers), Tatenda Muringani (Dynamos), Dumoluhle Lunga (Blawayo City), Denzel Khumalo (Highlanders), Tanaka Chanengeta (How Mine), Clive Rupiya (Bulawayo City).

Strikers: Nqobile Ndlovu (How Mine), Brighton Ncube (Bantu Rovers), Delic Murimba (Hwange), Kudakwashe Mangami (Bantu FC, South Africa) Mandla Mlilo (Ngezi Platinum Stars), King Nasama (Dynamos).

@skhumoyo2000