adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
WITH less than two weeks to go before the Mighty Warriors clash against Zambia in the Olympic Games qualifiers, the team appears to be heading for disaster as they are yet to start preparations for the match.The qualifiers started last month, but Zimbabwe had a bye in the first round and will only begin their campaign this month in the second round.
If they win against Zambia they will progress to the third round and from there they go to the fourth round.
Only two countries qualify for the main event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, next year.
But Zimbabwe, who start their campaign away from home on the weekend of 22-24 May at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka, are yet to put in place plans concerning the team’s preparations ahead of the important tie.
Zambia, who beat Zimbabwe 2-0 on aggregate in the African Women Championships qualifiers and denied them a place at the main event in Namibia, are already in camp preparing for the upcoming match.
ZIFA spokesperson, Xolisani Gwesela, said they will only be able to announce the team’s preparations next week and noted that financial constraints were the major setback.
“We will announce their preparations next week on Monday. The Young Warriors will also be playing here and they (Mighty Warriors) will be in Zambia.
“The reason is simple, we don’t have resources. We would like them to go into camp early but as you know we are financially constrained, that’s the challenge the national association is facing.
“We are burdened hence our continuous plea to the government and the corporate world to come on board as it is the trend world-wide,” said Gwesela.
This means the team will have less than a week to prepare for the match and one wonders if the national association is serious about the team qualifying for next year’s Olympic Games or it’s now a matter of just fulfilling the fixture.
Online Reporter