Zimbabwe's Under 20 team wins COSAFA Cup

Zimbabwe's Under 20 team wins COSAFA Cup

THE BOSS: Methembe Ndlovu

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By Nkanyiso Moyo

HIGHLANDERS coach Methembe Ndlovu wrote his own piece of history when he led Zimbabwe’s national Under 20 side to the COSAFA Championship title following a 3-0 win over hosts South Africa on Sunday.

The final was played at the Thulamahashe Stadium in Nelspruit.

After losing the CBZ Cup final and the league title to Dynamos, Ndlovu travelled to South Africa with the Young Warriors for the annual tournament, missing the
last two games of the season.

His team won the tournament without conceding a goal after thumping Mozambique 5-0 in the opener and Comoros 4-0 in the second match to reach the semi-finals. In the last four, the Young Warriors dismissed Namibia 3-0.

Goalkeeper Noel Soko was voted the keeper of the tournament as he did not concede a goal. The Young Warriors also won the fair play award from FIFA before rounding off with the crown for the COSAFA Championship trophy.

Super-sub Knowledge Musona rose from the bench and smashed in a memorable hat-trick that sank South Africa's Amajita.

"We worked hard to make sure our defence does not allow any goals. Our defence was the toughest of them all as we did not concede even a single goal. We are the only team that won the cup without conceding a goal, so credit must go to the boys," said Ndlovu after the match.

Musona said he had carefully studied the South African defence before his entry as a second half sub.

"It's my first time to score a hat-trick in a competition of such magnitude. This is a memorable hat-trick for me and my fellow players," said Musona.

Zimbabwe Under-20 captain and Masvingo United striker, Ovidy Karuru, praised the team’s discipline.

He said: "I am calling upon all Zimbabweans to rally behind the Under 20s as they prepare to become the next Under 23 national side. We are bringing the trophy this week, and we hope to celebrate with the nation.

"Last year we lost in the semi-finals, and this year, we did exceptionally well. We are happy with the victory, but credit must go to our coaches as well.”

Musona scored with his first touch, seconds after coming on, and rounded off an amazing individual display with two further goals late into the game.

Zimbabwe’s senior national team failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana next year and the Under 23 were booted out of the All Africa and Olympic qualifiers.
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