Mixed fortunes for Portsmouth's newest internationals after pair handed debuts
The promising pair are away from Fratton Park on duty with Zimbabwe and Wales
There have been mixed fortunes for Pompey’s latest two international footballers.
Academy duo Elisha Pfupa and Ashton Sizer are presently away on duty with Zimbabwe Under-23s and Wales Under-19s respectively.
And the promising pair were handed starts on their first international call-ups, albeit with differing outcomes.
The 17-year-old Pfupa was named in Zimbabwe’s side for the first leg of their 2027 African Cup of Nations Under-23 qualifier against Mauritius.
Goals from David Chigwada and Ngezi Platinum earned the Young Warriors a 2-0 home victory, with the second leg taking place in East Africa on Tuesday.
It marked a winning start for new coach Marc Sanchez, putting Zimbabwe firmly on target to progress for a second-round clash with Mali.
The 2027 Afcon Under-23 tournament also serves as the qualification route for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
International tournament in Marbella
Meanwhile, fellow Pompey Academy player Sizer has featured twice for Wales Under-19s during a friendly tournament in Marbella, Spain.
The former Crookhorn School pupil, who qualifies through his Barry-born grandfather, was promoted from the stand-by list to earn a maiden international call-up.
Sizer, a centre-half, made his debut off the bench in a 2-0 defeat to the USA at the Banus Football Centre last week.
However, he started Friday’s fixture against Norway, although suffered another 2-0 loss, with first-half goals from Phillip Holseter-Karlsen and Igor Gosik settling the game.
The final match of the three-game tournament takes place on Monday, with Jon Grey’s side facing Northern Ireland at the Marbella Football Centre looking for their first point.
The Waterlooville-based Sizer is hoping to impress to earn selection for next month’s Euro Under-19 Championship qualifying campaign fixtures against Finland, Spain and Iceland.
Victory over Chelsea
In the duo’s absence, Pompey’s Academy were denied a victory at the death on Saturday as nine-man Bromley grabbed a 95th-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw.
Dane Bailey and Fraser Thomas appeared to have put Piero Mingoia’s team on course for victory to maintain an encouraging start to the season, including a seven-match unbeaten run.
However, the high-flying Blues were forced to settle for a point when Bromley netted from a stoppage-time corner in the Youth Alliance League fixture.
They were also without five players - George Wilson, Tadi Bear, Brandon Downey, Kyran Sylavanus and Max Hammond - who had linked up with John Mousinho’s squad for the behind-closed-doors friendly at Chelsea on the same day.
Played at the Premier League club’s training ground, Pompey won 2-0 ahead of returning to Championship action on October 11 with a trip to Southampton.
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