Mighty Warriors gear up for Banyana

Challenge Cup on December 22.
The Mighty Warriors regrouped on Sunday to prepare for the match.
The Zimbabweans were humiliated by South Africa last year on Unity Day last year, losing 3-0, and they are seeking to turn the tables when the meet the 2012 Olympic Games finalists in this year’s match.
The Mighty warriors are training at Rufaro and yesterday went through their paces under the watchful eye of Zifa technical advisor Dieter Klaus Pagels and coach Rose Mugadza.
They Mighty Warriors featured in the Arab Invitational Cup last month in Cairo where they played against the hosts Egypt and Tunisia and finished the tournament in second place.
They turn to regional flavour as they host South Africa in a match which Zimbabwe would be using to prepare for the African Women Championships qualifier match against Botswana next month.
Although South Africa, who have been nominated for the Caf African Women Team of the Year award together with Cameroon and Nigeria, are on a bye in the preliminary round, they would be using the match as part of their Summer Olympics Games preparations. Banyana Banyana have been in camp for the past two weeks as they prepare to retain the trophy they won last year.
Rose Mugadza’s charges join the Under-20 women’s soccer in camp, who are also preparing to face Baby Banyana Banyana on Unity Day.
Yesterday, Young Mighty Warriors’ gaffer, Langton Giwa, said the new team he was trying to assemble, following the graduation of last year’s squad into the senior team, are showing a lot of potential and will give Baby Banyana side a good run.
“The players are responding well to training methods and we have since trimmed the squad to 25 players from the initial 33 players who started camp last week.
“They are working hard and their fitness levels are not bad as most of these players are playing club football.
“We are left with three players from last year’s squad which won a gold medal at Zone Six Games in Swaziland and we are confident the upcoming players will make a formidable side.
“We are looking forward to the match against South Africa.
“It would be our first match as a team but I am confident that it would be a competitive match and not one-sided.
“If the visitors approach the match with a mentality that they a playing a new team which have just been assembled, then they would be surprised.
“At the weekend we played against an Under-15 Mbare Select boys and the girls did well managing to hold the boys in the first half,” said Giwa.
Baby Banyana Banyana played Namibia last weekend in Windhoek in another friendly match as they intensify preparations for next year’s World Cup qualifiers.
But Zimbabwe are unfazed and are confident that they will come to the party on Unity Day.
Squad:
Onai Chingawo(Mufakose Queens), Chido Dzingirai(Cyclone Stars), Manyara Mandara (Cyclone), Ruvimbo Mutyavaviri (Mufakose), Patience Mujuru (Black Rhinos Queens), Danai Bhobho(Cyclone)Nobuhle Majika(Inline Academy)Lynette Mutokuto (Black Rhinos), Talent Mandaza (Black Rhinos), Emma Msipa(Mufakose), Tsitsi Mairosi (Mufakose), Tsitsi Mairosi (Cyclone), Nokuthula Ndlovu (New Orleans), Marjoury Nyaumwe(Aces Youth Academy), Sheila Makoto (Aces), Eunice Chibanda(Aces), Erina Jeke (Cyclone), Kuda Basopo (Black Rhinos), Panashe Masitara (Flame Lily)Rudo Neshamba(Inline), Samukelisiwe Zulu (Inline), Violet Bepete, Locadia Mugavazi (Cosa Guruve), Rutendo Makore (Black Rhinos).