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THE Olympics got under way in Brazil this week. Forget all the publicity around the health concerns and substandard infrastructure in some places and for a change focus on Team Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe is represented by about 30 athletes, including the 18 gallant Mighty Warriors. We have the only woman in the team to have won Olympic gold, Kirsty Coventry, representing us in swimming, and representation in athletics, rowing, equestrian sport, shooting and archery.
As a nation we are fully behind our athletes and we wish them the best in their contests and hope they bring home one or two medals. We are already encouraged by the performance of the Mighty Warriors, ranked 93, against the second-placed Germans that will also admit that they sweated for their victory against a determined Zimbabwe side.
That is the stuff that warriors are made of.
The display by the Warriors showed the potential that the country possesses in football and what we could achieve with the necessary support.A� That a team made up of girls from various Zimbabwean teams that do not play in a professional league can mount such a challenge against the second-ranked team boasting of players in professional ranks and playing for clubs such as Bayern Munich, speaks volumes about the stoic determination of our girls.
We believe the girls have surprised even themselves and should build on their performance going forward and leave a mark.
It is our view that the team will bring useful experience that will enrich local soccer in future.
To the administrators of the game, the determination of the girls must have exposed them since more friendly matches before the Olympics would have better polished the Mighty Warriors.
Also, between the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee and Zifa, someone has to shoulder the blame for having the team travel to such games without a technical advisor. We learn that Barry Daka, the technical advisor, who has been working with the team, was left behind as there were limited tickets.
While the teama��s defensive formation frustrated the Germans and limited the damage, the team was found wanting in terms of keeping possession and passing the ball.
Also, our defending too deep in our half and having to chase the ball, since we did not keep possession, saw our girls tiring in the second half hence the higher number of goals in that half.
The other worry that thorough preparations would have addressed was the frequency with which our girls slipped and fell, sometimes at crucial moments in our attacks. The team should have been exposed more to such artificial playing surface. It is our hope that our other athletes taking part in the Olympic Games have been properly prepared for the big stage. This is not the stage to make up numbers. We just have to compete, period.
Once again we salute the Mighty Warriorsa�� determination and zeal and pray for the same spirit to pervade Team Zimbabwe.
Go Team Zimbabwe Go!
Online Reporter