adminWarriors squad that is scheduled to leave tomorrow for Egypt to participate in two international friendly matches.
The team is currently in camp and is training twice daily at Barclays Sports Club.
The duo last featured for the national team last year, missing out on the All-Africa Games qualifiers and finals in Maputo in September, and they were also not part of the tour to Germany for an intensive training camp and international matches.
But since they rejoined Rhinos Queens following their military training, the players have been playing well every week for their club, which is on the verge of winning the inaugural national league.
Mighty Warriors’ coach Rosemary Mugadza, who left for South Africa yesterday to attend a coaches’ workshop on evaluation of the Fifa Women Soccer World Cup held in Germany in July, said she was impressed by the players.
“Rutendo has been playing week in and week out and scoring for her club.
“We hope her coming in will bring competition and help us with options upfront. On Tuesday night, Rutendo also scored for the team in our 1-1 draw against SR Villa.
“The coming in of Rutendo will also be a boost as two of our regular strikers Ntombiyelanga Ndlovu and Rufaro Machingura are not part of the team.
“Ntombi broke her leg and is recovering while Rufaro did not heed the call up,” said Mugadza.
Makore will battle for a place upfront with other forwards – Rudo Neshamba, Erina Jeke and Kuda Basopo.
Mugadza said the team, which last played together in September at the All-Africa Games, is in good shape ahead of the matches against the Pharaohs.
Zimbabwe, who had won the Cosafa Championships at home in July, failed to reproduce their form in Maputo losing to South Africa and Ghana and managing a draw against Tanzania to bow out of the competition at the first hurdle.
“The team haven’t lost much of the shape but we still need to work on one or two things and Joa (Chikaola) and Nkululeko (Dlamini) will be in charge of the team and l will hook up with them in Cairo. We hope the matches will help us as we begin to prepare for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations,” said Mugadza.
Zimbabwe have been drawn to play Botswana in the preliminary round with a win securing them a date with Nigeria to book a place at the African Women Championships.
But the draw will fall away if Zimbabwe gets Government approval to host the tournament next year.
Zifa are yet to get the green light to host the tournament. In the absence of the qualifiers, the Mighty Warriors will have to contend with playing friendly matches in preparation for the Championships which would be hosted later in the year.
Online Reporter