Mighty Warriors face Zambia

Sports Reporter
THE Mighty Warriors will have a real test this Sunday when they host Zambia at Rufaro in their first competitive game since 2008 when they featured in the Olympic qualifying rounds.
The two teams clash in a preliminary round, first leg of the All-Africa Games qualifiers. The tournament would be staged in Maputo this September.
The Zimbabwe women’s soccer team have been making a lot of waves recently and have lined up a number of friendly matches, including a tour in Germany.
But it will be the real business this weekend for coach Rose Mugadza and her troops and the gaffer is aware of the challenges that her team will face.
Mugadza said her team, which fell twice to South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in international friendly matches, will rise to the occasion.
“The girls are now ready and looking forward to the match. For the one month we have been in camp we have been working on fitness and it has really improved.
“The team is now looking better and sharp. I am happy with all the departments. We called some of the Under-20 players who played at the Zone Six Games in Swaziland to widen our options and there has been some strong competition,” said Mugadza.
Zimbabwe host a wounded Chipolopolo side which bowed out of the London 2012 Olympics when they were eliminated by South Africa last month.
They lost 3-0 in Durban after having lost 2-1 in the first leg at home.
But the Mighty Warriors are not reading much into the result and are aware of the threat that will be poised by Zambia. The two countries last played against each other two years ago when they met in the preliminary rounds of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games qualifiers and Zimbabwe prevailed against their neighbours to book a place to the first round.
But a lot has changed since that encounter and while Zimbabwe’s women football slumped into a quagmire, Zambia was making progress.
Captain Nomsa “Boyz” Moyo rejoined her teammates early this week after she was excused for a week following the death of her father.
The team, which has been enjoying support from the Friends of the Mighty Warriors such as businesswoman Jocelyn Chiwengwa, has vowed to repay all the stakeholders by a victory.
Women’s football fundraising and re-branding committee chairperson Chamu Chiwanza also urged the players to start winning and motivate everyone who has been going out of their way in supporting the team.
Meanwhile, Vice-President Joice Mujuru will be the guest of honour at the match. The match will be beamed live on television and fans will have free entrance into Rufaro.