Young Warriors lose again
THE national under-20 soccer team finished bottom of the triangular tournament standings after losing 3-1 against Kenya in their second and final match in Lilongwe, Malawi yesterday.
Zimbabwe lost the opening match 3-2 against the hosts on Wednesday.
Just like in the opening match, Zimbabwe conceded three goals and just like in the first match, Zimbabwe’s scorer was Greenfuel’s Denzel Mapuwa.
He scored both goals in Wednesday’s defeat. Kenya led 2-0 at halftime, increased the lead to 3-0 before Mapuwa’s consolation.
After the match, Young Warriors coach Simon Marange conceded that they lost to a better team whose players were in better condition against his charges, most of whom are not active regularly on the domestic scene.
THE national Under-21 netball team were fortunate to make it to the semifinals at the ongoing World Netball Youth Cup Qualifiers in Pretoria, South Africa despite falling 41-42 to perennial rivals Malawi, yesterday.
The Young Gems maintained third position on the log standings following Namibia’s defeat to Zambia earlier yesterday.
South Africa, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia will be battling for the three World Youth Cup tickets.
The Young Gems will be facing Zambia in the semifinals today in a match that they approach as favourites after beating the old foes 42-37 in the preliminary round games.
Namibia and Kenya will face off for positions five and six.
However, yesterday was a tough day for the Young Gems who walked into the match without any changes to their previous line up.
Thandiwe Mashore and Nikki Mundeya had to guard the team from the back while Ruvimbo Pawandiwa and Thandazile Ndlovu took care of the shooting ring.
It was a tightly contested battle from the onset with Malawi leading 23-20 by half time.