Courtesy: All Africa.com


Five-a-Side Squad Expected in Camp

by Eddie Chikamhi

27 March 2012

A 30-member five-a-side football squad is expected in camp this week as Zimbabwe step up their preparations for the Futsal World Cup qualifiers scheduled to begin early next month.

Futsal technical director, Frank Farakezi, yesterday said the players will assemble in Harare following the provincial selection camps held in Northern and Southern regions in the last two weeks.

"We are expecting 15 players from Bulawayo on Tuesday (today) and they will merge with the 15 who were selected in Harare.

"We are hoping to trim the squad down to 18 at the beginning of next week," said Farakezi. The group from the Southern Region has been working under Max Ruza while Farakezi, Lloyd Chigowe and Enock Mutuma were responsible for the selection in Harare.

However, the Futsal league is still waiting for the appointment of the national team coach at the next Zifa board meeting.

Zimbabwe were drawn against Sudan in the first round of the African qualifiers for the Futsal World Cup to be hosted by Thailand later this year. According to the draw, Zimbabwe will start at home over the Easter weekend (April 6-8l) and then play the return leg in two weeks' time.

There will be two more qualifying rounds afterwards and if they go past Sudan, Zimbabwe will meet neighbours South Africa in May with the third and final round of the qualifiers taking place in June.

"It's been long since we took part in international competitions but the good thing is that we have a had a league running consistently for the past four to five seasons," said Farakezi.

Gabon and Guinea will also take part in the first round and the winners will play Nigeria. Libya, who hosted the first edition of this competition in 2008.




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com