Tadious Manyepo in Lilongwe, Malawi
MIGHTY Warriors coach Stella Gotal is keen to hit the ground running when she takes charge of her first game against Malawi in the first leg of the opening 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games qualifying round at the Bingu National Stadium this afternoon.
The match kicks off at 15:00.
Gotal has been trying hard to implement her philosophy for the past two weeks since the Mighty Warriors assembled.
She knows the system will not be in full swing against a Scorchers side walking with a spring in their step after snatching a 2027 World Cup spot by virtue of finishing second at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in August.
That naturally makes them a tough proposition for Zimbabwe, not least with one of their leading stars, Temwa Chawinga, nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
But Gotal, eager to make a statement at the first hurdle, is not reading much into Malawi’s new-found status going into this match.
It is a game in which the Croatian has to squeeze a positive result to take back home for the return leg scheduled for the National Sports Stadium on Tuesday next week.
Gotal, however, has not shied away from the fact that today’s game at Bingu will be tough.
“We expect a really difficult game,” she said.
“It will be a big challenge for us, but we are really excited and motivated to play that game.
“We know that Malawi has some strong, let’s say, and good quality players, but our girls have worked really hard in training and we are ready.
“They were committed at training, and we are ready to compete.”
For Gotal, the current Zimbabwe squad, packed with foreign-based debutants, can emulate the class of 2016 that managed to make it to the Rio Games in Brazil.
There are remnants from that team too: captain Emmaculate Msipa, Rutendo Makore and Daisy Kaitano, who will be expected to lead the determined youngsters to achieve the feat.
While acknowledging the status that Malawian stars like the Chawinga sisters and returning midfielder Patricia Nyirenda carry, Gotal said she will focus more on her own side.
“I always say that we will play against Malawi, not individuals,” added Gotal.
“They have maybe two, three good players.
“But this should be extra motivation for us because Temwa, she comes and she plays for Kansas in the United States.
“Tabitha, she plays in Olympic Lyon, let’s say, for example.
“So we know that probably those coaches, they will be watching the game, and that’s an opportunity for our own players to also market themselves.
“That’s how we can take all that rather than focusing on one or two players only.
“We are ready to face them, and we are ready to suffer and then get a positive result. I am hopeful our philosophy will show somehow and be able to get us a good result.”
Msipa said Malawi are a difficult opponent, especially given what they have recently done, but the Zimbabweans are not in Malawi to admire the hosts.
“We are here in Malawi to compete,” said Msipa.
“The match will be tough but not for us alone; it will be tough for both teams.”So it will all come down to who seizes moments at the right time.
“We are keen to go out there and leave everything on the grass. We know there will be an intimidating crowd, but we are all used to that. We will give it our all.”
Nyirenda promised a good game and said she respects the Mighty Warriors, who last beat them last year in a Four Nations tournament at the same venue.
