Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze-Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Mighty Warriors are back in camp and, quietly, Zimbabwe women’s football project is beginning to gather momentum again.
The first group of players reported for camp yesterday ahead of next month’s Four-Nations Tournament in Zambia, with the rest expected to join today and tomorrow as preparations intensify for a competition that now carries far more weight than just silverware.
What started as another regional tournament is slowly becoming an early test run for Zimbabwe’s 2028 Los Angeles Olympic qualifiers campaign.
Originally, hosts Zambia, Kenya, Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe were expected to battle it out at the tournament before Burkina Faso pulled out. Ghana have since expressed interest in taking the vacant slot, with organisers now pushing to restore the four-team format.
But inside the Mighty Warriors camp, attention has already shifted beyond the changing fixture list.
This afternoon’s training session gives coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda her first proper opportunity in years to work with a squad carrying both local and foreign-based talent under one roof.
That alone matters.
Zimbabwe have spent years struggling to keep the women’s national team active consistently, with limited international windows, funding challenges and long periods without meaningful competition slowing progress.
Now, there is at least movement again.
ZIFA vice-president responsible for women’s football, Loveness Mukura, confirmed preparations were already underway with logistical arrangements nearing completion.
“We are happy to inform the nation that our local contingent started reporting for camp yesterday while others will be in today as we start to technically prepare for the tournament,” said Mukura.
“Exact dates are yet to be set because we first needed to ascertain if it is going to be a four or three nations tournament to allow for proper planning in terms of the format to be used for the games.”
The early arrivals also give the technical team time to assess sharpness, fitness and tactical balance before trimming the squad.
Captain Nobukhosi Ncube misses out after suffering a knee injury during last year’s COSAFA tournament and remains sidelined.
Her absence leaves a leadership gap, but Emmaculate Msipa returns from DR Congo giants TP Mazembe and is expected to reclaim the armband as Zimbabwe blend experience with a younger core. Ruvimbo Marechera is expected in camp from Israel while Ethel Chinyerere, now playing for Zambian side Green Buffaloes, will link up with the team in Zambia.
Most of the players who featured at the last COSAFA tournament are back, with goals likely to rest on familiar names such as Praynance Zvawanda, Rutendo Makore, Bethel Kondo, Privilege Mupeti and Anita Ncube.
Mukura believes the tournament gives Zimbabwe a rare but important chance to reconnect local players with their foreign-based teammates before October’s Olympic qualifiers against Malawi.
“This preliminary phase affords the selected players at least one to five days to show their readiness, sharpness and tactical suitability,” she said. The bigger focus, though, remains qualification for the Olympics, something Zimbabwe last achieved in 2016.
“Women’s teams barely get a lot of tournaments to participate, world over the women’s game is underfunded hence we always have limited opportunities to compete and gain exposure,” said Mukura.
“When such opportunities avail, we always put in all the effort to ensure that our team participates, especially with the bigger picture that we are looking at as Mighty Warriors.
“As ZIFA, we are working round the clock to ensure that we give them the best support that we can because this is the only way we can get the best out of them.
“While we are looking forward to silverware from the Four-Nations Tournament, we are hopeful of another appearance at the Olympics; hence, our full commitment in supporting the team.” The last time Zimbabwe featured in the regional tournament, in December last year, they finished runners-up behind Zambia.
