Flames depart for Cosafa, to face Zim

Reigning Cosafa Cup champions Zimbabwe got down to serious business on Tuesday when they begun preparations for this year’s edition of the tournament currently underway in Zambia.

The Warriors of Zimbabwe are scheduled to face the Flames in the quarter-finals of the regional showpiece this Saturday in Lusaka.

The Flames also stepped up their preparations in Lilongwe under new Belgian expatriate caretaker coach Tom Saintfiet.

Zimbabwe, who have also been boosted by the return of German coach Klaus Dieter Pagels at the weekend from a short sabbatical in his home country, had a full house last night as all players turned up for the camp.

The Warriors are scheduled to leave for Zambia on Thursday while the Flames are expected to leave today (Wednesday).

Zimbabwe’s team manager Patrick Mutesva was quoted by The Herald on Tuesday as saying the team will train twice each day during their brief camping period.

“All the players that were called up have reported for camp and we will start training tomorrow [Wednesday].

“The good thing is we have no reports of any injuries that we have received as yet and the team doctors will also ascertain the fitness of the players before we depart on Thursday [tomorrow] morning,” said Mutesva.

Zimbabwe’s selection was limited to a maximum of two players from each club so that the domestic Castle Lager Premiership programme will not be disturbed.

While the squad comprises mostly inexperienced players, Pagels will be happy with his new strikers Tendai Ndoro and Simba Sithole’s form with both players having been on target for their teams at the weekend.

Ndoro, who is the current leading scorer in the Castle Lager Premiership with 11 goals after 16 games, helped Chicken Inn salvage a point at home against Shabanie on Friday.

Other notable faces in the Warriors squad are Caps United goalkeeper Tafadwa Dube and Charles Sibanda of Platinum FC.

Meanwhile, several fans approached The Nation at the Kamuzu Stadium to caution that unless the Flames beef up with some foreign-based players, they should expect a tough ride during the 13-member Cosafa Cup where Kenya’s Harambe Stars are participating as guests.

Malawi, who only released a tentative squad a few weeks ago, are two-time Cosafa Cup finalists.

Experienced James Sangala and Jimmy Zakazaka are expected to bolster the Flames.