adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
THE Mighty Warriors camp that had been scheduled to start yesterday at Elangeni Training Centre in Bulawayo has been postponed to a later date yet to be announced due to logistical challenges.
The senior national women’s soccer team had hoped to kick-start preparations for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August.
They also have the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations qualifier match against Tanzania coming up in March.
Mighty Warriors coach Shadreck Mlauzi on Monday said the camp was the beginning of their medium term plans for Olympic Games preparations and they were also targeting the Africa Cup of Nations.
But they now have to wait a bit longer for the local football mother body, ZIFA, to come up with a new date.
A squad of 30 players had been called into camp and was expected in Bulawayo yesterday.
However, ZIFA communications officer Xolisani Gwesela said they had moved the camp and will announce the new date in due course.
“The camp has been postponed due to logistical challenges beyond the association’s control. We will give you the new date in due course, they will get into camp soon. We understand the urgency, we understand these guys need early preparations but for now we have postponed the camp,” said Gwesela
Zimbabwe were drawn against Tanzania in what appears to be a fair draw in the Cup of Nations qualifiers and the two countries will first meet on the weekend of March 4 to 6.
The Mighty Warriors will begin their quest for success away from home in the first round and the return leg will be played two weeks later on the weekend of March 18 to 20.
The winner from this tie will then take on the winner between Zambia and Namibia in the second round in April.
Seven countries from the qualifiers will join hosts Cameroon for the main event from November 19 to December 3.
And Zimbabwe will be hoping to be part of those countries after missing out on the previous edition hosted by Namibia in 2014.
They were booted out by Zambia in the second round.
Online Reporter