Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S showing in the Women’s 4Nations football tournament in Ndola, Zambia has once again sparked debate on how far the Mighty Warriors have been falling in quality over the last decade.
The Mighty Warriors slumped to a 3-0 defeat by rivals Zambia at the Levy Mwanawasa on Tuesday night, extending to seven years since they last beat the Copper Queens.
It might have been an international friendly tournament which also featured Kenya and Lesotho, but there was no mistaking that it was also a performance indicator of how far the Mighty Warriors have been falling when measured against continental rivals.
Until then, Zimbabwe had the better head-to-head record over Zambia having been a stronger of the sides two until the Copper Queens tilted the pendulum in 2019.
Just 10 years ago, Zimbabwe were the pride of the continent, joining South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in representing Africa at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Following years of neglect, but previous ZIFA administrations, development of the women’s game naturally stalled.
Now the Mighty Warriors rank well behind, not only Zambia, but even the likes of Burkina Faso.
While Zimbabwe’s fortunes have waned significantly, teams like Zambia have made huge strides.
The Copper Queens have also tasted how it feels to be on the Olympics stage and the World Cup, while being a regular feature at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
And they are still developing.
They have proper structures, which have a professional league supporting that.
Yet for the Mighty Warriors, Zimbabwe’s suspension from international football worsened their plight which had not been helped by being frozen out by the ZIFA leadership during and in the post COVID-19 period.
The women’s game is still in shambles although the current ZIFA executive have been pulling all the stops to plug further decline.
With the league running without proper structures and without a sponsor, the domino effect has been felt by the Mighty Warriors.
Their coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda has already started experimenting with the younger players in an ambitious rebuilding exercise.
In the semi-final of the 4Nations tournament against Lesotho Sibanda threw in her young guns and they impressed in that 3-1 win.
“Basically we are rebuilding the team,” she said.
“The young players that we now have in the squad have already shown that they have what it takes if given more time together.
“You saw how they pinned down Lesotho. They were so sharp and that is an encouraging sign.
“All the players that started (except captain Emmaculate Msipa) were 25 and below.
“This is the team that we can take in the 2028 Olympics qualification and it can give us something.
“We are very confident that we can do very well in those qualifiers.”
Sibanda would have to make some tough decisions on the Mighty Warriors future with questions on whether it is still necessary to retain players like Rutendo Makore, who are now past their prime.
