FRIENDLY Academy will represent Zimbabwe at the Durban Friendship Under-20 Soccer tournament to be held in South Africa next week, Standardsport has learnt.
By Brian Nkiwane
The tournament, bankrolled by Khuphuka Investments Holdings, will be held from September 23 to 28 at Durban’s Richards Bay Stadium. The finals and third and fourth positions will then be staged at Growth Point in the same city.
The tournament is for players born from 1993. Each team must consist of 24 individuals (20 players, two coaches and two officials). Other countries at the tournament are Russia, Ukraine, Ghana and Zambia with South Africa providing three academies to bring the number of teams to eight.
The aim of the tournament is to popularise and develop junior football, consolidate sporting and friendship with other countries, as well as an exchange of coaching experience by different coaches.
According to the founder of Friendly Academy, Richard Solobala, the invitation to take part at this year’s event came through the ministry of tourism.
“The invitation was extended to us by Karikoga Kaseke who has also committed himself to see that we get transport to and from Durban. Other logistics such as food and accommodation will be provide there.”
A total of eight teams will be drawn into two groups of four, with the group winners from the two groups set to play runners up from the two groups in the semi-finals.
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The winners of the semi-finals will then meet in the finals. “We have been working on finalising our team which will go there and do us proud. We will work hard to bring the trophy back home,” added Solobala.
Kaseke confirmed the trip, adding that it was good for the junior players, as they increase chances of being scouted abroad.
“I got the invitation and approached Friendly Academy who then approached Zifa for clearance. We are now working on modalities of assisting them to fulfill the fixture. I am told the team that is going to win the tournament will be given a chance to go and play in Russia,” Kaseke said.
Special awards will be given to the following players: best player of the tournament, best goalkeeper, best defender, best striker and top goal scorer.
