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Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
THE ninth edition of the COSAFA Women’s Championship kick-off this afternoon at Nelson Mandela Bay with hosts South Africa seeking a record fifth title.
Banyana Banyana have won the regional title four times with only Zimbabwe being the only other country to have set their hands on the regional title.
The Mighty Warriors won it on home soil in 2011.
South Africa meet Malawi this afternoon in a Group A encounter.
Another Group A match this afternoon is between Angola and Mozambique.
Zimbabwe, who left for South Africa on Monday, get their campaign underway tomorrow afternoon with a match against Tanzania. They are in the same group with COSAFA debutants and guests South Sudan as well as neighbours Botswana.
Banyana Banyana largely have a home-based squad and some of their players based abroad will not be available since the games fall outside the FIFA calendar.
Mighty Warriors coach Sithetheliwe Sibanda has carried a strong squad boasting of some of the players that reached the CAF Champions League regional qualifier with Black Rhinos Queens in Durban last month.
CAF Champions League player of the tournament Rutendo “Madzimai” Makore and goalkeeper of the tournament Precious Mudyiwa are part of the team that has promised to do well in this year’s edition.
A makeshift Mighty Warriors team comprising of junior players last year performed dismally at the tournament bowing out of the group stages without a point. But a lot has since changed and the Zimbabwean side is walking with s spring in their step following Black Rhinos Queens conquests.
The army side had a fairy run in Durban where they eventually lost to Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies in the final.
The South African club will represent the COSAFA bloc at the inaugural CAF Champions League finals in Egypt next month.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter