Mighty Warriors captain oozes confidence in Zebras clash

FROM Grace Chingoma in Gaborone, Botswana
MIGHTY Warriors captain Onai Chingawo believes they have the pedigree to beat Botswana in the first leg of the African Women Championships preliminary round tie at the University of Gaborone today.
Zimbabwe take on the Batswana side who go into this match carrying the underdog tag but with a strong fighting spirit as the journey to Malabo gets underway this afternoon.
Speaking during yesterday’s Press conference where both sets of captains and coaches were relaxed and exuded confidence, Chingawo declared war on the Batswana.
The goalkeeper said the team was aware of the risk of underrating lowly-ranked teams like Botswana and they don’t want to leave Gaborone needing shock therapists to condition them.
“The girls know that we cannot take Botswana lightly as this tends to affect us.
“When we played at the All-Africa Games last year we got complacent that we were facing the South African development side and it backfired for us as we were beaten heavily.
“We want to win. Everyone in the team believes that, and we can do it.
“The coach has been telling us that this first leg is significant if we are serious about qualifying for the championships.
“Morale is high in camp and from the first whistle we will attack.
“We are just focused on the game and we will carry on from where we left against South Africa,” said Chingawo.
While Zimbabwe will be participating in their fourth campaign in the Championships set to be held in Equatorial Guinea later in November, and boast three appearances at the continental showcase, the Zebras are still looking for a maiden appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Somehow, they believe they will get it right this time.
Botswana coach, Gaoletlhoo Nkutlwisang, said her troops, who in the past two editions of the Championships fell to Namibia and the Democratic of Congo at the first hurdle, will get it right against their neighbours.
“This time we are playing our neighbours Zimbabwe, we assembled a team in December and broke for Christmas and we have been playing local warm-up matches with junior men’s sides as well as women’s teams.
“The overall preparations have gone on well and we have managed to cover the tactical aspects of the game.
“Fortunately, we have no major injuries but a few simple knocks. We are confident that we will win.
“We want to show other countries that we have improved as well.
“With the help of God we are promising the Zimbabweans that we are going to win this match,” said Nkutlwisang.
The Zebras captain, Bonang “Bebeto” Otlhagile, who plays for Bulawayo giants Inline Academy together with the Mighty Warriors duo of Rudo Neshamba and Nobuhle Majika, said she will not read much into her knowledge of some of the players.
“I have seen them playing. But I don’t know who is in the squad and who is not.
“But we are approaching this game with a game plan that’s all I can say,” said Nkutlwisang.
The Mighty Warriors will also be banking on the support from the Zimbabweans based here and yesterday coach Rose Mugadza announced her first team.
The gaffer chose to stick to the players who started in the Mighty Warriors Unity Day Challenge Cup against South Africa last month.
The only change is midfielder Nokuthula “Marhoo” Ndlovu who is injured and did not travel and the left midfield position will be filled by Sheila Makoto.
The strikeforce combination of Rudo “Tupla” Neshamba and Erina Jeke is expected to provide goals while big forward Rutendo “Madzimai” Makore, who came off the bench against Banyana Banyana to score, is again expected to increase options upfront.
The midfield will be led by Marjoury Nyaumwe, who has excelled virtually every time she plays for the Mighty Warriors, and the hardworking Tsitsi Mairosi, who is popular here following her exploits at the Cosafa Women’s Championships in Harare last year.
Meanwhile, the Caf preliminary round of the African Women Championships gets underway across the continent this weekend with first leg matches.
Defending champions Nigeria, South Africa and Cameroon have a bye into the first round.
Fixtures:
Côte d’Ivoire v Guinea; Egypt v Ethiopia; Namibia v Tanzania; Kenya v Mozambique; Zambia v Malawi; Morocco v Tunisia; Botswana v Zimbabwe; Uganda v RD Congo; Mali v Ghana.
Zimbabwe Team
Onai Chingawo, Talent Mandaza, Ruvimbo Mutyavaviri, Danai Bhobho, Patience Mujuru, Emmaculate Msipa, Marjoury Nyaumwe, Tsitsi Mairosi, Sheila Makoto, Rudo Neshamba, Erina Jeke.