Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze-Zimpapers Sports Hub
WHEN Danai Bhobho put on the Zimbabwe badge for the Olympic Qualifiers second round, she will be hoping to make up for her heartbreak of 2016.
The defender-cum-midfielder missed out on the historic trip to the Olympics in Brazil in 2016, despite being part of the team’s preparations right until the last minute when she was dropped.
Bhobho had featured at the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon, but went on to miss the Olympic Games as one of three non-travelling reserves.
This time, she will be hoping to be in the thick of things, helping the team book a second appearance on the global stage and go all the way. Under new coach Stella Gotal, the Mighty Warriors, who received a bye in the first round of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Qualifiers, face Malawi in the second round.
The first leg is slated for October 9, 2026 at the Bingu Stadium, with the return set for the National Sports Stadium four days later.
With Gotal recently opening the door to new players and returning stars, the Mighty Warriors begin their campaign buoyed by Bhobho’s return. “We are still building, and the door is open to everyone, so here we have some Mighty Warriors regulars and new faces who have also proved that they deserve to be given a shot,” said Gotal.
“For the regulars, it was not a guarantee for them to make it too or to make it into the final travelling team; they have to fight for positions like the other players.
“Bhobho is among the veterans who found their way back into the team, so it is now a matter of fighting to survive the final cut, but we want our team to balance fresh blood for speed and experience.”
Bhobho rose to prominence almost a decade ago as part of the dominant Mighty Warriors side that became a powerhouse on the continent. The 33-year-old brings a wealth of experience, having played for Mwenezana, Cyclone Queens, Harare City, Simba Queens and Young Africans SC before finding her current home at Nsingizini Hotspurs.
In recent years, her career had taken a downward turn before the defender took the bold decision to go and revive her football life in Eswatini.
Months later, that move has paid off, with a national team call-up as part of the 26 players who will represent Zimbabwe in the qualifiers among the dividends.
Her return brings a fascinating flair to Gotal’s set-up. With Ruvimbo Mucherera, Samiah Phiri, Praynance Zvawanda, Rutendo Makore and Ethel Chinyerere all natural finishers, Zimbabwe need a creator and natural supplier to the front line, someone to connect defence to attack while controlling the flow of the game.
Pundits agree that, on form, Bhobho could be the perfect candidate for the Mighty Warriors’ midfield battles.
“Form decides who should play or not; all things being equal, Bhobho is one of the characters that we need in this new-look outfit,” said Precious Nkiwane, the former footballer turned pundit. “The youngsters are good for speed and agility while also creating a smooth transition for the future.
However, we also need experience so that the team have some confidence.
“Bhobho, Makore and others have been there in this game for a long time; at some point their careers even took a nosedive, and we almost wrote them off, but they still fought the odds and bounced back.
“This is something that inspires many young girls, so we need to create an atmosphere where the youngsters can learn as much from the seniors.”
On the 28th of November 2025, the Mighty Warriors defeated hosts Malawi 2-1 at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe in the Three Nations Women’s Tournament. Zimbabwean star Ethel Chinyerere netted a first-half brace to secure the win, while Faith Chinzimu scored a consolation goal for Malawi
