The Zebras U-20 affectionately known as ‘young zebras’ to its fans locked horns over the weekend with Congo- Brazzaville young Red Devils at the national stadium.
The Zebras under 20 coach Dragojlo Stanojlovic was unconvinced that they were playing against U-20 Congo Brazzaville side.
Stanojlovic noted that though he has respect for Congo and their style of football, he believes somehow the team they faced could not have been 20years or below that but looked a bit older both facially and physical.
“Congo is a very strong team but as a coach I am concerned about the age of Congo players. Take jersey 1, 19, 9, and 18; even their faces look older than the ages that were availed to us,” he said.
But the former technical team member of Township Rollers commended his side for being physically fit adding that he is proud that the boys managed to keep their cool and played against Congo even though they seemed more disadvantaged when compared with Red devils.
“Tactically the boys were good but the biggest mistakes were chances they missed in the first half, but I am happy of the confidence the boys displayed. They did their best and more is to come from them,” he noted.
Even though the boys have never won a single game of the AFCON qualifiers, and only managed it through to the second leg by an away rule favour; the head coach still believes that when they face ‘the red devils’ on their backyard their focus will be only on a win and put aside all other things that may disturb the boys.
“I am positive we will win the next game with Congo, our strategy is play to win and attack throughout the game,” said Stanojlovic.
The next game will be played at Congo- Brazzaville on the 20th May.
Congo scored in stoppage time to snatch a 1-1 draw on Saturday in Gaborone Botswana.
