U-17s on Course for Glory

It is all looking good for Zimbabwe's Young Warriors on the international front. Barely a week after the Under-20 team claimed the Metropolitan Holdings/Cosafa Trophy with a convincing 3-0 victory over hosts South Africa last Sunday, the country's Under-17 side are on course for success in another regional competition in Windhoek, Namibia.

Rodwell Dhlakama's teenagers have defied odds to power their way into the Cosafa Under-17 semi-final after topping Group C with an unbeaten run. They will now face northern neighbours Zambia in a crunch semi-final in Windhoek today while the other semi-final clash pits Malawi, who finished as the best runners-up, and Group A winners South Africa. Despite travelling to Namibia in batches on the eve of their opening match against the hosts last Saturday night, the Young Warriors defied such odds to force a 1-1 draw.

Coach Dhlakama and six other players who were in the second batch actually arrived in Windhoek hours before the match, a move that forced a delay to the start of their game against the Namibians.

That the Young Warriors were in a tougher four-team group that also included Angola and Swaziland while the other groups had three teams each, meant the Group C countries had to play their matches on successive days. After getting off to a slow start with the 1-1 draw against Namibia, the Young Warriors moved a gear up when they upstaged Angola 2-1 in their second match on Sunday night.

Chegutu Pirates striker Ashley Mukwena and defender Malvin Matanda of Sport Excel found the goals for Zimbabwe. And when news filtered in from Mpumalanga that the Under-20s had won their championship, Dhlakama's boys knew they had to win their last group game against Swaziland if they were to stay on course to secure the Under-17 title and emulate Methembe Ndlovu's charges.

Zimbabwe turned on the power in what head of delegation and Zifa board member Solomon Mugavazi, speaking from Windhoek yesterday, described as "a strong first half showing by the boys". Sundowns striker Patrick Kaunda struck a brace before Aces Youth Academy defender Elvis Mazivise added a third to ensure the Young Warriors went to the break with a healthy lead. Zimbabwe then held out to preserve their lead and Dhlakama even had the luxury of throwing in CAPS FC's Archieford Gutu in the second period just hours after the teenager had joined his teammates from another tour of duty with the Under-20 team.

Should Zimbabwe beat the Zambians and go on to win in the final against any of Malawi or South Africa, Gutu could write his own piece of history by being a double gold medallist inside a fortnight. Mugavazi, however, said the Young Warriors were taking each game as it comes and were focusing all their attention on today's semi-final showdown with Zambia.

The Zifa Northern Region chairman also maintained that Zimbabwe would not read much into Zambia's 8-0 demolition of Botswana in their final Group B game. "Yes, Zambia have been scoring highly, but I would say theirs was a weak group and teams were scoring many goals. For instance, Malawi beat Lesotho 4-0 today to finish as the best runners-up.

"But it will be a different story when we take them on tomorrow. "In our first match, the boys were tired due to the problems with the travelling arrangements. Now they are settled, playing very well and there is so much confidence in their game. "I also believe the win by the Under-20s in South Africa has inspired them because at the back of their minds they now know it can be done and they are also eager to win the Cosafa tournament here," Mugavazi said.

He also lauded the Under-17 side for their discipline and revealed that coach Dhlakama and his assistant Lloyd Mutasa will have the luxury of choosing from all the players they took to Windhoek, as there have been no suspensions to date. Interestingly, the triumphant Under-20 side also scooped the tournament's Fair Play award in Mpumalanga. "We do not have any injuries or suspensions because the youngsters have been very disciplined and focused. "It has been very hot in Namibia even though we have been fortunate that until the semi-finals we have been playing our matches at night when temperatures are a bit cooler. But now that the semi-final matches are 4pm, it will also be a test of their character," Mugavazi said. That this latest generation of Under-20 and Under-17 squads are being lauded for their discipline and talents is also a positive change from the trips of shame that characterised the two sides' last visits to South Africa last year during which the Under-20 team went on strike at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg over unpaid bonus and allowances.

Later in the same year, the Under-17 side had a nightmarish trip to Johannesburg for an African Youth Championships qualifier where they spent five days on the road after enduring successive breakdowns of their bus.

But after winning the Anoca Zone Six Games in Lesotho, Zimasco Shurugwi coach Dhlakama knows he has to clear the hurdle posed by Zambia before he can dream of winning his second championships title with the Under-17 side.