Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze in Polokwane, South Africa
ZIMBABWE’S Mighty Warriors made a statement start to their Cosafa Women’s Championship campaign with a controlled 2 nil win over Eswatini at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium yesterday, laying down an early marker ahead of tougher tests in the group.
Goals from Praynance Zvawanda and substitute Rutendo Makore sealed a result that underlined Zimbabwe’s tactical discipline and game management, even as coach Sithethelelwe Sibanda admitted her side is still building towards peak fitness. Zvawanda opened the scoring in the 36th minute when she headed home a cross from vice captain Christabel Katona, rewarding a spell of patient build up play that had already begun to tilt momentum Zimbabwe’s way.
The breakthrough settled the Mighty Warriors, who enjoyed long spells of possession and looked the more composed side, stretching Eswatini with measured movement and sharper decision making in the final third, although they could have gone into the break with a bigger lead after creating several promising openings.
Sibanda turned to experience early in the second half, introducing veteran forward Makore, a former Cosafa Golden Boot winner, and the change quickly gave Zimbabwe greater control in advanced areas.
Makore’s presence pinned Eswatini deeper and created more space for Zimbabwe’s midfield to dictate tempo, cutting off the supply line to the opposition attack and allowing the Mighty Warriors to dictate the rhythm of the contest.
With Eswatini struggling to retain possession and increasingly forced into hopeful long balls, Zimbabwe tightened their grip and were rewarded when Makore finished off a well worked move to double the advantage and effectively put the result beyond doubt.
Eswatini’s problems worsened when defender Ncedo Gamenze was sent off for handball, leaving them a player short and with little route back into the match as Zimbabwe closed it out with authority and organisation. Katona’s influence across the pitch earned her the Player of the Match award, capping a performance that blended leadership with attacking intent.
Sibanda said her side approached the game with caution, aware of Eswatini’s pace in forward areas and the need to manage energy levels carefully.
“We needed to manage the game because they have speedy forwards and they try to play long balls to use that pace,” said Sibanda.
“So we congested the middle to cut their supply and once we did that they struggled, we gained control and created our chances.”
She praised Makore’s impact after coming on, saying the forward’s experience helped stabilise the attack and allowed the rest of the team to play with greater confidence.
“Makore brought stability and experience up front and that gave our midfield and backline room to shut them out and control the game,” she said.
The coach also singled out young players Bethel Kondo, Anita Ncube and Mcgirl Spini, who impressed on their competitive national team debuts and offered a glimpse into the side’s emerging depth.
“I am very happy with how the young players performed. They are relatively new and this was their first competition after the friendlies in December,” Sibanda said.
“Now I have confidence that our future is strong because if we are not at full fitness we still have depth to manage games.”
The win gives Zimbabwe early momentum in the tournament and sets up a high stakes clash against defending champions Zambia on Sunday, a match that will offer a clearer measure of how far Sibanda’s rebuilding side has progressed.
