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Tadious Manyepo in PRETORIA, South Africa
MIGHTY Warriors coach Shadreck Mlauzi is not looking for any excuses as the national senior women’s team open their Cosafa campaign with a date against Lesotho at Lucas Moripe Stadium here this afternoon.
The match kicks off at 12pm.
This is Zimbabwe’s first official international competition in over 18 months as the country has been under FIFA suspension which was lifted only in June.
The Women’s Super League has however been up and running with Mlauzi, who led the same team to the 2016 Olympics in Brazil demanding character from his charges.
The veteran gaffer was retained by the ZIFA Normalisation Committee and there is a new positive atmosphere in the Mighty Warriors camp. The 21-member team wrapped up their preparations for today’s match at the Wits University Stadium late yesterday with the girls expressing optimism ahead of the game.
And Mlauzi has demanded total concentration from the players whom he wants to be competitive at the tournament.
“The nation appreciates where we are coming from. We have to put in motion short, medium and long term strategic plans,” said Mlauzi.
“We haven’t been playing international football for some time and this is our first competition.
“Nonetheless, we have to be extremely competitive in this tournament.
“We are harbouring hopes of being competitive. That is the reason why we are here.
“I am very confident that these girls will make the nation proud”.
Mlauzi said if the Mighty Warriors come to the party, they can beat anyone at the tournament adding they have already done technical analysis on most of the teams they are to face at this regional fiesta including Lesotho.
“We have done some technical analysis on how these teams play including Malawi who we play in our first game in this tournament.
“We have really done our homework. We have no negative issues and it’s all positive. I think we stand a very good chance of beating Lesotho in our first match. We have worked on our combinations and it’s looking good”.
The gaffer said although the tournament is expected to be tough, Zimbabwe can even go all the way if they apply themselves well.
“The aim is always the same that is to be very competitive. If we can bring the cup home, why not?.
“But first things first. We have to take each game as it comes.
“Our first match against Lesotho is very critical in that it will help us shape the campaign”.
The Mighty Warriors will face Namibia in their next match at Dobsonville in Johannesburg on Sunday before concluding their group business against Botswana on Tuesday next week, again at Dobsonville Stadium.
Winners in each of the four-team three groups as well as the best runners up across the pools progress to the semi-finals.
The tournament is running until October 15.
Online Reporter