By Billy Stephenson Two Yorkshire based players have been called up to the Zimbabwe squad for the Four Nation’s tournament which starts in a weeks’ time.
Bradford City’s Adam Chicksen and Cliff Moyo of FC Halifax Town are in the squad which will be heading out to the competition in Zambia. It comes just two months before the Cosafa Cup in South Africa.
The draw for the competition pairs Zimbabwe with the hosts Zambia, while Angola play South Africa. All of these teams failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup with Zimbabwe only playing three international games last year.
This will be Chicksen’s first international call up as he qualifies to play for Zimbabwe through his father. The former Brighton & Hove Albion defender signed for Bradford from Charlton in the summer of 2017 on a two-year-deal and has made 15 appearances since.
Meanwhile Moyo has played nine times for his international side.
Kelly Gilchrist, who is the website editor at FC Halifax Town, told Yorkshire Voice: “I am very happy for Cliff, he has worked hard and it is always good to be called up for your country.”
She added: “He is a confident lad and this will give him a lot of experience.”
Moyo admitted that he did not start playing football properly till he was 16 years old and did not take it that seriously at first.
While speaking to the Halifax Courier last year, Moyo said: “I grew up in Zimbabwe and lived there until I was nine, so I grew up kicking bottles with bare feet, which was my kind of football.
“I was at college doing bits and bobs, but there was a guy there who liked me as a player and took me down to play for the Staffordshire County team. I’m proud of myself for getting where I have because I never thought I’d be at this level.”
Moyo has made 13 appearances for The Shaymen this season and has found the back of the net just once.
Zimbabwe will be playing their opening game next Thursday in a hope to secure a place in the final.