BY Michael Madyira Hell awaits the Zimbabwe national Under-20 soccer side in Luanda in the return leg of the African Youth Championships qualifiers second round after Angola vowed to revenge what they deemed ill-treatment they received during the first leg in Harare last week. The Young Warriors, who succumbed to a 1-0 morale-sapping defeat at Rufaro Stadium, are set to leave for Luanda on Thursday ahead of Sunday’s second leg. The Angolans were booked into a three-star Harare hotel by the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) but turned down the accommodation before paying themselves into a five-star hotel. In June, Burundi national team stayed at the same hotel which is located in Harare’s Avenues during an Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier. Angola also claims they were denied the opportunity to train at the match venue prior to the game. Soon after the match, an official in the visitor’s team was overheard declaring they will reciprocate the treatment they received from their Zimbabwean counterparts. Young Warriors coach Jairos Tapera is aware of Angola’s intentions and is already bracing for hostile treatment during their away mission. “We are going to engage two psychologists who would talk to the boys on what lies ahead for them. It is an unfortunate thing that Angola are planning to treat us badly but it is good that we now know what they are planning for us,” said Tapera. Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze dismissed Angola’s intentions as a mere ploy of mind-games. He said the cash-strapped association will try to raise funds for alternative accommodation and food in case the Zimbabwe would be abused. If Zimbabwe passes the Angola hurdle, they would meet either Egypt or Kenya in the third and final qualifying round for the competition to be held in Algeria next year. Kenya held Egypt to a goalless draw away in Cairo in the first leg last week.
