Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
MIGHTY Warriors forward Ethel Chinyerere has secured a year-long loan move to Zambian Women’s Super League side Green Buffaloes, in a key transfer, which has excited the senior women’s team as they believe it could boost Zimbabwe’s push for a second Olympic Games appearance.
The Mighty Warriors are the only side from Zimbabwe’s team sport, to have qualified for the Olympics with the hockey team who won gold in Moscow, Russia having been the trendsetters in 1980.
Zimbabwe had to wait until 2016 when the Mighty Warriors made it to the global sports showcase in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to have a team sport at the Olympics.
Now they are eyeing a return to the same stage when the Olympics roll into Los Angeles in the United States in 2028.
And Chapungu striker Chinyerere is one of the key figures in the senior side.
Her transfer to Lusaka this week, places her in a Green Buffaloes team that regularly supplies players to the Zambia’s senior team the Copper Queens.
Green Buffaloes’ current squad includes Zambia internationals Evarine Susan Katongo, Natasha Nanyangwe, Ngambo Musole, Diana Banda and Martha Katila Banda.
With Zambia ranked 64th on the FIFA women’s rankings compared to Zimbabwe’s 127th, the move is expected to give Chinyerere exposure to a higher competitive level ahead of the second round of 2028 Olympic qualifiers in October.
“This is my first international move and I have to make sure that I learn as quickly as I can so that by the time I go back home, I will use all that to my team’s benefit,” Chinyerere said.
She has spent the last 13-years at Chapungu and acknowledges that her presence at the Air Force of Zimbabwe outfit gave her stability and purpose, noting she turned down local offers to remain with the Gweru side.
Her performances earned her a role with the Air Force of Zimbabwe, where she holds the rank of sergeant.
Chinyerere, nicknamed “Zim-Haaland,” is now one of the senior figures in the Mighty Warriors set up.
She is expected to link up with captain Emmaculate Msipa, Kudakwashe Basopo, Ruvimbo Mucherera and Yolanda Kanyai for the qualifiers.
Zimbabwe received a bye into the second round of the CAF Olympic qualifiers after the draw conducted by CAF.
The second round runs from October 5 to 23, with the Mighty Warriors set to face Malawi.
Six lowest-ranked nations will contest the first round during the June FIFA window, with three advancing to join Zimbabwe and 28 other African teams in round two.
“I know a lot will be expected from us, but before we get there, we should understand that for me to play here does not mean that I automatically qualify for the national team . . . I should fight for it,” Chinyerere said.
“I came to Chapungu in 2013 from Chipembere Queens and months turned into years, years blurred into a decade yet it only feels like yesterday.
“Now I feel that the very talent honed on the unforgiving Gweru streets is finally bearing fruit and the good thing for me to do is repay Chapungu, and Zimbabwe for what they did for me,’’ she said.
“This means more than just a contract but a lifeline and the breakthrough I have silently dreamed of.
“I am just a girl who found salvation in football and now is perhaps time to raise my national flag high and also play my role in ensuring that we take the Mighty Warriors to another Olympics appearance”.
