Zim withdraws from Four Nations Tournament

Zimbabwe has pulled out of the forthcoming Under-17 Four Nations Soccer tournament billed for the coastal town of Walvis Bay from March 16 to 20.

Speaking at a media briefing in the capital yesterday, Director of Sport in the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, Dr Vetumbuavi Veii said the ministry had been informed on Monday that Zimbabwe would not make it to the Four Nations tournament. According to Dr Veii, the Zimbabweans decided to rather focus on their senior team which was scheduled to play South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Harare last night.Dr Veii said that in the absence of the Zimbabwe Under 17 team the ministry would consult with the other two competitors, namely, South Africa and Westphalia of Germany to see if the local Namibian Under-20 national team could be drafted into the tournament.Veii was confident that South Africa and Westphalia would not refuse the request.He said the organisers contacted Angola, Botswana, Mozambique and Swaziland to replace Zimbabwe but their request was turned down as it was at too short notice.Should the Under-20 national team win the tournament, they would be relegated to third place so as to have the Under-17 teams play the final, added Veii.While the response to have the under-20 national team compete in the tournament is still pending, South Africa will arrive in Namibia tomorrow, while the team from Germany is expected to arrive on Friday.Meanwhile, Veii urged all soccer lovers from the Erongo Region to come in their thousands and rally behind the national Under 17 team.He said there was no reason for not turning up since entrance was free of charge.He described the tournament as educational and an eye-opener for players who have not seen the ocean.Veii thanked the Walvis Bay Municipality for availing the Kuisebmund Stadium for free and also thanked the Namibian Police for agreeing to assist with security.Last year’s edition of the Under-17 Four Nations Cup was won by South Africa with Zambia and Westphalia finishing second and third respectively.Namibia finished at the bottom of the round-robin tournament.NampaAccording to Dr Veii, the Zimbabweans decided to rather focus on their senior team which was scheduled to play South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Harare last night.Dr Veii said that in the absence of the Zimbabwe Under 17 team the ministry would consult with the other two competitors, namely, South Africa and Westphalia of Germany to see if the local Namibian Under-20 national team could be drafted into the tournament.Veii was confident that South Africa and Westphalia would not refuse the request.He said the organisers contacted Angola, Botswana, Mozambique and Swaziland to replace Zimbabwe but their request was turned down as it was at too short notice.Should the Under-20 national team win the tournament, they would be relegated to third place so as to have the Under-17 teams play the final, added Veii.While the response to have the under-20 national team compete in the tournament is still pending, South Africa will arrive in Namibia tomorrow, while the team from Germany is expected to arrive on Friday.Meanwhile, Veii urged all soccer lovers from the Erongo Region to come in their thousands and rally behind the national Under 17 team.He said there was no reason for not turning up since entrance was free of charge.He described the tournament as educational and an eye-opener for players who have not seen the ocean.Veii thanked the Walvis Bay Municipality for availing the Kuisebmund Stadium for free and also thanked the Namibian Police for agreeing to assist with security.Last year’s edition of the Under-17 Four Nations Cup was won by South Africa with Zambia and Westphalia finishing second and third respectively.Namibia finished at the bottom of the round-robin tournament.Nampa