Mighty Warriors provisional squad named

Ngqabutho Moyo Sports Reporter
THE Mighty Warriors side to take part in a four-team tournament in Botswana will begin preparations next week.
Rosemary Mugadza last week named a 25-member provisional squad for the invitational competition to run from January 30 to February 1.

Mugadza and her technical team are expected to trim the squad to 18 players who will travel for the event.

The squad is dominated by Zimbabwe National Women’s Super Football League players from Mufakose Queens, Inline Academy, Hwange, Black Rhinos and Auckaland Queens with each providing a minimum of three stars.

Enterprising Rejoice Kampfumvuti of Inline Academy was among the players who were retained together with Rufaro Machingura of Black Rhinos, Berita Kabwe of Tenax Queens and Mufakose Queens’ Melody Musasa.

Bustling Inline attacker Rudo Neshamba who has also played in Botswana was included.

Mugadza was quoted on the Zifa website saying she had confidence in the selected players’ fitness despite the festive break, as the majority of the players were training with their clubs.

“We’ve selected players we presume to be the best to do the job at hand. The bulk of the players have been training with their league clubs and that is a plus for us in as far as match fitness is concerned,” the coach said.

The Mighty Warriors were last in action on July 11 last year where they shared spoils with Banyana Banyana in an international friendly which ended 0-0 at Rufaro Stadium.

All participating teams are using the tournament as part of their preparations for the All-Africa Games and Olympic qualifiers.

Botswana and Zimbabwe are the confirmed participating teams in the tournament with the others yet to be named.
Mighty Warriors squad

Pamela Mhlanga (Hwange Ladies), Bokani Sibanda (Hwange Ladies), Samelenkosi Ncube (Hwange Ladies), Melody Musasa (Mufakose Queens), Emmaculate Msipa (Mufakose Queens), Chido Muhara (Mufakose Queens), Felistas Muzongondi (Cyclone Stars), Chido Dzingirai (Flame Lilly Queens), Erina Jeke (Flame Lilly Queens), Marjory Nyaumwe (Flame Lilly Queens), Violet Bepete (Black Rhinos Queens), Patience Mujuru (Black Rhinos Queens), Rufaro Machingura (Black Rhinos Queens), Moleen Murandu (Auckaland Queens), Mavis Chirandu (Auckaland Queens), Lincie Mpaya (Auckaland Queens), Rudo Neshamba (Inline Academy), Rejoyce Kapfumvuti (Inline Academy), Berita Kabwe (Tenax Queens), Deliwe Makaha (Tenax Queens), Nokuthula Ndlovu (New Orleans Queens), Kudzanayi Chiparause (Blue Swallows Queens), Sheila Makoto (Blue Swallows Queens), Tafadzwa Tsunguro (Blue Swallows Queens), Fortunate Kandarira (ZRP Morris Queens).