adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
AS the Mighty Warriors intensify their preparations for the Olympic Games, the team’s technical advisor Barry Daka believes they are taking the right direction.
The senior national women’s soccer side have a date with South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in an international friendly match on Sunday at Makhulong Stadium at Tembisa in Johannesburg.
The Mighty Warriors’ technical team has been emphasising on the need for friendly matches to gauge their progress before the Rio Games and Daka said although they have previously engaged junior men’s teams as part of their preparations, it’s ideal they compete with their fellow female players.
“The preparations now are on the right direction as we prepare for the friendly game against South Africa this weekend.
“They will honestly come in handy. Before these other games, the friendlies which we have played, we played against the local juniors from Harare City. They really gave us some good training, but looking at this competition it’s against women, it’s not against men.
“But otherwise the other games which we have played probably they have been very useful towards the Olympic Games preparations, like the games against Zambia (during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers). We would wish we have more friendly matches against other women’s teams,” said Daka.
The former Highlanders gaffer said there are some basic aspects they still need to work on and will utilise the time they have to ensure the girls are ready for the Rio Games.
Zimbabwe are in Group F together with two-time World champions Germany, Canada and Australia.
“Well we are getting a very good response from the players . . . but I can see that some of them are not as good at this stage as they are supposed to be. We are looking at ball control, turning and crossing of which we are really working on it from now onwards.
“We are working on it because the programmes which are set, are planned in a way that we should get a response. They are specific,” Daka said.
The former Highlanders player and coach said there is need for the team to be supported at all levels to complement the technical team’s efforts as they seek to build a strong side that will go and compete in Brazil when they make their maiden appearance at the Olympic Games in August.
“On my side, I am happy with the programme and the approach by the technical department.
“It really shows that there is professionalism. I wish that everybody would be professional like the technical department because like now it’s a national cause.
“We must be united, whoever, whether at club level, at the administration level, the motherbody, there must be some cohesion,” said Daka.
The team is expected to leave for South Africa tomorrow.
Online Reporter