Mighty warriors preps on course…Mlauzi satisfied with progress made

Harare Bureau
WITH less than a month to go before the Olympic Games begin in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, Mighty Warriors coach Shadreck Mlauzi says the team is shaping up as they continue with their preparations for the global sporting showpiece. The Games are set for August 5 to 21 but the football tournament kicks-off on August 3. The Zimbabwe senior women’s side are camping at Bindura University of Science Education and Mlauzi feels they are on the right path since they resumed camp on June 29.

“The preparations this time around have gone very well. Bindura University has offered us basic facilities, of which we’re more than happy to work in this environment. “There is no disruption of our programme. It’s been going on very smoothly.

“We’ve been alternating between gym work and ground work for the technical and tactical side. “In the evenings we’ve been offered a room and projector for our lectures where we profile the teams that we’re going to play and go through the games we played in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

“We’re also educating the girls on media management and their diet. So there is quite a lot we’re focusing on to make the girls believe,” said Mlauzi. Mlauzi said there have been some positive signs on the injury side with Rutendo Makore and Rudo Neshamba, who were struggling, on the mend.

Makore was out since January while Neshamba missed the Africa Women Cup of Nations qualifier tie against Zambia in April and the friendly match against South Africa in May. Erina Jeke could not travel with the team for that same match due to a knee injury as well. “It’s been fantastic. We’ve had great sessions here. The coming in of Rutendo Makore has been a major boost.

“She looks very sharp at training, one would think she has been with us from the beginning of the year up to now. But we’ve had her since we started this training. “We’re happy Rudo is coming up as well and Erina Jeke because they have chronic injuries we all know. But judging from what we’ve seen, they will play and compete in Rio,” said Mlauzi.