Mandla Mpofu
Grace Chingoma Harare Bureau
YOUNG Warriors new head coach Mandla Mpofu is relishing his task ahead of the team’s 2017 African Under-20 Championships qualifier against Cameroon in Yaounde on Sunday.
Mpofu took over from Jairos Tapera who has moved to South Africa to join Division One side Black Leopards.
The Young Warriors were held to a goalless draw in the first leg.
Mpofu will be assisted by Under-17 coach Tafadzwa Mashiri.
“I’ve been with this group since 2010 and I think we’ve done well as a country and I’ve learnt a lot,” said Mpofu.
“I know it’s a pressure job but my responsibility is to develop and feed players into the national team.
“If you look at our senior national team you’ll see that most of them came from this group and I’ve worked with them before.
“I know people want results and we’ll try and get the results but the most important thing is we must bring these players to a level where they play for the senior national team.”
The coach, who has retained the team which did duty in the previous match, added only two others players Denzel Khumalo and Learnmore Muyambo.
“I think we’ve just started well, we started on Monday and the boys are in good shape, just waiting for the big game,” said Mpofu.
“It’s a big game as Cameroon are big boys in Africa but we’re just motivated.
“The Mighty Warriors went there, came back with a positive result and it was the same story as the Under-23s.
“Now we’ve to make sure we go there and make our country proud by bringing a positive result.”
Yesterday the players received a visit from Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa who urged the boys to do well in Yaounde.
Squad
Nelson Chadya (Ngezi Platinum), Kelvin Shandiwa (Harare City), Lesley Lunga (Bantu Rovers), Bukhosi Ncube (Highlanders), Darryn Phiri (Triangle), Mathius Chodewa (Bantu Rovers), Patrick Musaka (Friendly Academy), Bukhosi Sibanda (Bantu Rovers), Blessing Sibanda (Tsholotsho), Learnmore Muyambo (Harare City), Peace Makaha (Dynamos), Leeroy Mavunga (Yadah FC), Blessing Nyamuzihwa (CAPS United), Amos Ncube (Chicken Inn), Denzel Khumalo (Bantu Rovers), Prince Dube (Highlanders), Obert Tofira (Friendly Academy), Munashe Kaseke (Malaga, Spain), Denzel Khumalo (Bantu Rovers).