Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze-Zimpapers Sports Hub
MIGHTY Warriors’ all-women technical team might have failed to get silverware from the just-ended COSAFA Cup, but they left an impression difficult to ignore.
The senior women’s team finished the tournament fourth behind Namibia, hosts South Africa and Zambia in that order.
Veteran striker Rutendo Makore was crowned the tournament’s Top Goal Scorer, making it her second award after bagging a similar one in 2017.
While the team did justice in their mission to reclaim their former glory, it is their technical bench that impressed COSAFA participants.
Of the 11 nations that participated in the COSAFA, Zimbabwe were the only team at the tournament with an all-women team on the bench.
Head coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda was being assisted by Irene Mwanza and goalkeepers’ coach Onai Chingawo, while Primrose Serima was responsible for the team’s strength and conditioning.
Miriam Kasimu was the team manager; Kudzanai Matavire was given the role of team medic and Margret Maulana served as the team doctor.
Mwanza, a CAF B holder, is a teacher and coach at Mosi-oa-tunya High School.
Serima is MWOS Queens’ head coach, while Chingawo is a goalkeepers’ coach at Women’s top-flight side Ngezi Platinum Queens.
“At some point we stop looking at the result, it is the lessons that matter most and help us build further, and in this case, Zimbabwe as an opponent has been impressive,” said Zambian Coach Charles Haalubono.
“Their game has been on a whole new level in this tournament, and we never underestimated them especially after watching them outclass Eswatini in their first game of the tournament.
“However, what I loved mostly is that they are the only team with an all-women technical bench.
“The women did their duties with so much confidence and even stamped a lot of authority on the field of play so much so that you dared not to underestimate them tactically.”
The last time that the Mighty Warriors had a male coach in their set-up was at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in February 2025 in Luanda, Angola when Sibanda was assisted by Kudakwashe Matuwi in the dugout.
Going for the Three Nations Tournament in Malawi, it transformed into an all-women set-up.
Sibanda’s team completed the tournament as silver medallists behind Zambia while the host nation settled for bronze.
“The other good thing that I have noticed is that now there are new players in the Zimbabwean team; most of the old players that we used to know have gone and, still with fresh talent, these female coaches have done so well,” added the coach.
“As a region and as football nations in general, I am sure there is so much to learn from it.
“Our women should take up these courses and be brave enough.”
Just after the Mighty Warriors’ last match of the tournament, Sibanda did not wait to watch the COSAFA finals as she had to dash off to the airport and board a flight to Rwanda.
Kwinji 15, who is gradually becoming a big name in terms of qualifications, is currently attending a FIFA Diploma in Coach Education.
