adminAll-Africa Games in Maputo, when they host Banyana Banyana in the 2nd edition of the International Challenge Cup on Unity Day at Rufaro.
Zimbabwe, having acquired a new status as the Cosafa champions in July, were quickly brought down to earth two months later by a South Africa development side which inflicted the heavy defeat on Rose
Mugadza’s team in their opening match at the Pan African Games.
The Mighty Warriors bowed out of the games in the group stages.
Zimbabwe were also embarrassed by their neighbours in the inaugural Challenge Cup last year
The team believes they now have a perfect chance to show the neighbours that their 1-0 win in the Cosafa Championships final was no fluke.
Since returning to international football last year, the Mighty Warriors, have met South Africa four times and have managed a single win – in that stormy Cosafa final on home soil in July.
“We are ready for the task. The training sessions have gone on well and we are looking forward to this match,” said Mugadza.
“The girls are upbeat about winning the trophy. It is a grudge match. The players still have fresh memories of the humiliation in Maputo and want to erase it by beating South Africa.
“Last year in the same Cup we lost to the same team and the Mighty Warriors just believe they have to put to an end the dominance by South Africa.
“We know it will be a tough challenge as they are preparing for the Olympics and are treating these matches seriously. But we also know what this match means for us. They are on the verge of being crowned Caf
Women’s African Team of the Year.”
Mugadza said her girls should rise to the occasion given the high profile nature of the opponents.
“With Cameroon, they (South Africa) are the only African countries representing the continent at the Olympics next year,” said Mugadza.
“So, getting a chance to play such a team more often means a lot to us and beating them would really mean more.
“We are preparing for the African Women Championships qualifier against Botswana early next year and this match is giving us that opportunity to further assess our team after noting a lot of grey areas during the Arab Cup matches in Egypt.
“But I am glad the team is showing signs of improvement and if they implement it on Match Day it should be a good and competitive match.”
The squad has lost two players – Black Rhinos defender Lynette Mutokuto, who has tonsils, while striker Samukelisiwe Zulu injured her ankle.
Banyana Banyana were scheduled to arrive last night.
Meanwhile, Young Mighty Warriors coach Langton Giwa, who is still in camp with his squad despite the withdrawal of South Africa’s Baby Banyana from their challenge match, said he was looking beyond Mozambique in the Fifa 2012 World Cup qualifiers.
The Zimbabwe Under-20 women’s national soccer team have been handed a relatively easy draw in the first round.
If they progress, they would meet the winner between Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
“The team is taking shape. We are not underrating any team but teams like Mozambique are still behind us and are inconsistent.
“For instance last year they were not even at the Zone Six Games and we last competed against them at junior level when they hosted the Zone Six Games in 2004. We would want our team to have really gelled by the time the competition starts and the youngsters are quickly responding to the training,” said Giwa.
Online Reporter