The Sunday Mail
From Noel Munzabwa in EZULWINI, Swaziland
THE Young Warriors arrived here yesterday looking weary but confident of overcoming Swaziland in an Africa Youth Championship second round, second leg qualifier at the Somhlolo National Stadium this afternoon.
Kick-off time is 3pm.
The hosts start as favourites after holding Zimbabwe to a goalless draw in the first leg.
The Young Warriors’ shambolic travelling arrangements have also given the hosts some added confidence.
Zimbabwe, whose journey was in doubt for the better part of last week, only arrived shortly after 4pm and were booked at Esibayeni Lodge near Manzini, the commercial hub of this country.
Despite a taxing journey that saw his team fly to Johannesburg, South Africa, before making the trip to Mbabane by road, coach Kallisto Pasuwa is confident that his boys will do the job.
Yesterday afternoon, Pasuwa decided against taking the Young Warriors for a work out at the match venue, arguing that they needed to rest after the long journey.
“We have come here for a fight,” he said.
“We would have loved to train at the match venue but unfortunately we will not be able to.
“As a technical team we will sit down and talk to the boys ahead
of the game. They know what is at stake and I am happy the morale is high. The boys are eager to leave their all on the field of play,” he said.
Swaziland coach Caleb Ngwenya believes his team has enough arsenal to disarm the Young Warriors after playing out a goalless draw away from home.
“We have prepared well for this game and we are looking forward to getting a result after doing well and coming out of Harare with a draw.
“It will not be an easy outing but we are ready,” he said.
