ZIMBABWE has received a bye for the 2013 Cosafa Castle Cup to be hosted by Zambia in July following a draw conducted Thursday.
Zimbabwe joins Angola, South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi as the teams that will avoid the first round pitfalls against regional minnows.
The Warriors, who are the defending champions after winning the last edition of the tournament in 2009, were seeded on the strength of their FIFA ranking. They are ranked 98 in the world and 25 in Africa.
Kenya, who have been invited by Cosafa together with Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mauritius and Seychelles, will take part in the group stages of the competition which will kick off on July 6 in Kabwe and Lusaka.
The region’s big guns will enter the competition at the quarter final stage.
A delegation from COSAFA headed by Chief Operations Officer Sue Destombes was in Zambia last week on an inspection visit of facilities ahead of the tournament to run from July 6-21.
The party visited the three venues in Lusaka, Ndola and Kabwe, and but for some minor refurbishments at the latter venue, are wholly satisfied that the preparations are well on track for the regional showpiece.
Fourteen countries will take part in the tournament.Advertisement