ZIMBABWE Under-23 assistant coach Saul Chaminuka has named an 18 man squad with only three new faces to face Swaziland in an international friendly in Mbabane on Wednesday.
The ZPC Kariba coach was in charge when the Young Warriors lost 1-0 to Botswana in another international friendly in Gaborone last month as head coach Calisto Pasuwa was in Egypt attending a Caf technical conference to review the 2014 World Cup staged in Brazil.
And on Wednesday Chaminuka and fellow assistant Hwange's Nation Dube will bark instructions from the bench again as they face Sihlangu as Pasuwa has asked to be excused for the second time.
The Dynamos coach says that his assistant Philemon Mutyakureva is away attending a Caf B licence course in Bulawayo which would mean his team which consolidated its top position on the league table following a 1-0 win over Buffaloes would be left in the hands of goalkeepers coach Tichaona Diya if he were to accompany the team to Swaziland.
Ironically, the Young Warriors face Swaziland in Mbabane in the first round of the All- Africa Games qualifier in February before hosting them in March for the second leg.
The Young Warriors will also face Swaziland in the African Championship qualifying campaign in April and should they win the encounter they will face neighbours South Africa in the second round with Senegal awaiting in the third round should they overcome their neighbours.
The team left for Mbabane, Swaziland on Monday morning with a 24 member delegation headed by Zifa board member responsible for competitions - Fungai Chihuri.
Chaminuka and Dube have taken with them new faces ZPC Kariba’s Tonderai Leeroy Mateyaunga, Pritchard Mwamba Mpelele from Hwange and Terrence Gonzo from ZPC Kariba.
The trio comes in as replacements for Dynamos goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva, FC Platinum’s Walter Musona and Keith Tafadzwa Mavunga of ZPC Kariba respectively.
Chaminuka told the association’s official website he was happy to be given another opportunity to have a look at his playing personnel.
“We are glad that ZIFA has presented us with another opportunity to assess our boys. We are optimistic and confident that we will built a strong team for the Under-23 African Championships qualifiers”, said Chaminuka before their departure.
ZIFA Spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said the Association would ensure that the Under 23 team would be subjected to a number of friendly matches and appealed for corporate support.
“As the mother body we will work tirelessly to ensure that the youngsters are subjected to numerous friendly matches. We want to produce a competitive team for the qualifiers.
“Once again we appeal for corporate support as you all know of our precarious financial position. The funding of our national teams is everyone’s collective responsibility," he said.
Zim 18-man squad
Tonderai Leeroy Mateyaunga (ZPC Kariba), Bernad Donovan (How Mine) Blessing Moyo (Dynamos), Praise Tonha (Triangle) Liberty Chakoroma (Buffaloes), Lawrence Mhlanga (Chicken Inn), Njabulo Kelvin Moyo (FC Platinum) Ronald Tapiwa Pfumbidzai (Caps United), Nqobizitha Masuku (Bantu Rovers), Wisdom Mutasa (FC Platinum), Brian Muzondiwa (Black Rhinos), Pritchard Mwamba Mpelele (Hwange), Terrence Gonzo (ZPC Kariba), Emmanuel Mandiringa (How Mine), Gabriel Nyoni (Highlanders), Knox Mutizwa (Highlanders), Rodwell Carlos Rusere (DC Academy), Charles Tinashe Mukanhairi (Caps United).