Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
STELLA Gotal faces her first real test as the Mighty Warriors coach when the team faces Malawi away at Bingu Stadium in Lilongwe.
The battle is the second round of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Qualifiers.
The match is pencilled for October 9.
The Mighty Warriors regrouped on Sunday.
Captain Emmaculate Msipa is expected to join camp by the end of the week.
The tie marks the beginning of a demanding journey for the youthful Croatian, who joined the team a month ago on a two-year contract, tasked with guiding the team back to the Olympics.
“It is the beginning of a journey that goes to the Olympics and beyond and one which needs us to work together as a nation understanding that one result does not mean much,” she said.
“We need to build a squad that is competitive across platforms and this will be a process…we are now down to business in our first camp.”
After assembling a 26-member provisional squad, opening doors to new players and returnees, all eyes will be on how she fares against a lethal Malawi, back-to-back.
The Scorchers are ranked 153rd on the FIFA Women’s World Rankings, although their recent performances have seen them projected to skyrocket to 119th. The Mighty Warriors are ranked 127th, making them the better side on paper.
However, Malawi are fresh from a historic debut WAFCON run where they finished as runners-up, claiming silver and come into the qualifiers full of confidence and belief.
And this becomes a statement assignment for 34-year-old Gotal.
She is expected to find a solution for the Scorchers’ fast and direct style characterised by counter-attacks and individual firepower from world-class forwards Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga.
“We did our research and understand that they are a very strong side, we have to be tactically disciplined if we are to be able to stop them,” she said.
“They are physical, direct and dangerous on set pieces so we must match their intensity but keep our own identity. “As a team, we should understand our individual roles and how best each one of us should give maximum effort in that role to make it teamwork for us to bring results.
“We also don’t want to look at their status…we are more invested in increasing our work rate on the pitch and executing our philosophy and style in the best possible way.”
The return leg is set for the National Sports Stadium on October 13.
“Playing at the National Stadium after so long is emotional for the players and for us as the technical team because obviously you want to make a good first impression,” she said.
“I know that the Zimbabwean football fans are very passionate and love to sing, cheering their team, I wish to learn one or two of those songs because this is the vibe I love on match day.
“It creates quite the atmosphere, and this is something that we have to maintain as a team and our fans…so a positive result makes everything amazing.”
Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers
Cynthia Shonga (Herentals Queens); Vanessa Lunga (Platinum Royals); Delight Matigwene (Chapungu Queens); Tanyaradzwa Nyakuchena (Chesham United Women)
Defenders
Bridget Mutaurwa, Alice Moyo, Maud Mafuruse (Herentals Queens); Egness Tumbare (Correctional Queens); Nokukhanya Ndlovu (Platinum Royals); Sheila Antonio (Chapungu)
Midfielders
Christabel Katona, Daisy Kaitano (Black Rhinos); Shyline Dambamuromo (Herentals Queens); Emmaculate Msipa (Maccabi Holon); Peacemore Kanende (Ladies Young Achievers); Timukudzeishe Mudziviri (Southern United); Danai Bhobho (Nsingizini Hotspurs)
Forwards
Ruvimbo Mucherera (Maccabi Tel Aviv); Samiah Phiri (Unattached); Privilege Mupeti, Rutendo Makore (Black Rhinos Queens); Ethel Chinyerere (Green Buffaloes); Sasha Marikano (FC Atletico Uri); Farirayi Kuhudzai (Ladies Young Achievers); Praynance Zvawanda (Herentals)
