Young warriors in early loss

Sports Reporter
THE Young Warriors began the Cosafa championship race on a disappointing note when they lost their opening 2-3 group match to Swaziland in Mauritius yesterday . Swaziland scored the winning goal four minutes before the end of the match. The Young Warriors duo of striker Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya and midfielder John Bonomali each scored a goal in the 60th and 65th minute. Coach Tafadzwa Mashiri said his failure to handle the free kicks allowed the winner of Swaziland to win the match.

"A very uncertain start to the match made us lose the game, as we conceded at the beginning of the match, but we managed to recover with a good second period and, with the exception poor defenders of a team that conceded a goal in the last five minutes, we could have gotten something from the match, "he said. On Monday, he will meet Malawi's neighbors, who humiliated them 5-0 at the same stage of the tournament last year. "We have to win our second match against Malawi so we stay in the game," he said.

The Young Warriors complete their Group C campaign with a match against Angola on Wednesday. And Mashiri would like to avoid a repeat of last year that saw the team come home without a win of the group stages.

In another Group C game, Angola beat Malawi 1-0. In the action of Group B, South Africa and Lesotho shared the loot in a draw. Today, Group A will play its second games with Botswana seeking victory against Seychelles to reach the semi-finals.

The Young Zebras surprised hosts and finalists last year, Maurice 1-0 on the first day. Mauritius will play against a vibrant Namibia that beat the Seychelles 8-3 on the first day of action.

Team
Zimbabwe: M. Mapondera, T. Munengami (Madzivire 46th minute) C Ndiraire, M. Manyeruke, T. Matenga (C. Bandason 39th minute), Mr. Ngwenya, S. Dauka, J. Bonomali , Mr Soko, T. Mandinyenya, Mr Hativagoni.