ZIMBABWE Cricket Under-19 head coach Stephen Mangongo believes lack of self-belief and mental approach accounted for their Youth One Day International series loss to West Indies Under-19.

After playing their hearts out to level and be in a position to clinch the series, Zimbabwe Under-19 threw it all away, when it mattered most, by letting West Indies claim the deciding game by 70 runs at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

“Basically I am very disappointed to lose the series 2-1. As a coach it hurts so much,” Mangongo told Sportszone.

In the third and final game, Zimbabwe Under-19 captain Liam Roche won the toss and elected to field but the bowling unit that had been impressive the whole series, didn’t just turn up and got quite a bit of pasting as West Indies set 257-4 in 50 overs.

In reply, Zimbabwe were all out for 187 in 42,5 overs with Roche’s 65 insufficient to save his side. Three costly runouts put the hosts on the back foot and there was no recovery.

Mangongo is convinced that his charges lost the battle on confidence and mental approach.

“Being an experienced coach that I am, without a shadow of doubt that’s where we lost the final (game). Mental coaching and psychologists have become part of the technical set up.

“That’s why we have been calling loud and loud to have mental coaching so that these boys realise that we are just the same with any other countries. It just came down to self-belief.”

He added: “West Indies believed they were not going to lose to Zimbabwe so they were more aware with the big brother attitude. We had four guys with the big brother attitude and seven believed they were small. If we get mental coaching nothing can stop us.”

In spite of the loss, Mangongo remains proud of his charges for taking the challenge to the world champions, the West Indies.

“Cricket wise we were definitely up there with them; we matched them man for man. Losing the series 2-1 that shows how far we have come.

“A year ago remember how West Indies were. So it was number 10 versus number one and we matched them man for man. We are happy we are in right direction and tome that’s important,” he said.

Zimbabwe Under-19 will remain in camp as they prepare to host Kenya in a four-match YODI series at Kwekwe Sports Club starting this Wednesday.