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Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
MIGHTY Warriors skipper, Emmaculate Msipa, has been drafted in the COSAFA Championships squad set to go into camp on Friday.
The regional tournament will run from September 28 to October 9, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Msipa returned home from Europe prematurely, after her Spanish club CF Joventut Almassora planned to loan her to Belarus Premier League team, Dinamo Minsk.
However, the deal hit a brickwall as the transfer window closed, before the completion of the paperwork, leaving Msipa stranded.
The 29-year-old midfielder has since returned home and is waiting for the next transfer window.
Msipa joined the club, which is in the Segunda Division Feminina, on a one-year deal, in February.
The former Black Rhinos Queens captain cannot re-join her former club, or any other club, until the next transfer window.
Her club sought clarity from FIFA, through ZIFA, and were advised that she could not play for Black Rhinos Queens at the recent Champions League regional qualifier in South Africa.
Her return is a big boost for national team coach, Sithetheliwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda, who has since roped in her skipper.
Sibanda is also expected to revise the squad, to include more players, from Black Rhinos Queens.
The army side did well in Durban, reaching the final of the CAF Champions League COSAFA qualifier.
They lost 0-3 to hosts Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies in the final.
And Sibanda, who had included eight players from the army side, believes the players who were in action are now in a better physical shape, compared to others, who have been inactive, for close to two years.
The technical department has given the Black Rhinos Queens time to recover before they join other players in camp.
The Mighty Warriors crashed out at the group stages, without a win and a point, last year.
Zimbabwe are in Group B and will take on Botswana, East African guests Tanzania and Central African guests South Sudan.
South Africa headline Group B, which also has Angola, Malawi, and Mozambique.
The region’s top-ranked team, Zambia, are in Group C, which also has Namibia, Eswatini, and East African guests, Uganda.
The top team from each group, and the best-placed runners-up, will advance to the semi-finals.
Original squad
Goalkeepers: Precious Mudyiwa(Black Rhinos Queens),Cynthia Shonga (Harare City), Lindiwe Magwede (Herentals), Leona Bhunu ( Hearts of Oak), Chido Dzingirai (Correctional Queens).
Defenders: Nobukhosi Ncube (Correctional Queens), Sheila Makoto, Edeline Mutumbami (both Blue Swallows), Egness Tumbare, Moreblessing Bwenende (both Harare City), Talent Mukwanda, Tabeth Mutinhiri (both Herentals), Purity Mugayi, Eunice Chibanda (both Black Rhinos).
Midfielders: Mavis Chirandu, Daisy Kaitano, Christabel Katona (Black Rhinos), Marjory Nyaumwe, Berita Kabwe (Correctional Queens), Emmaculate Msipa (unattached), Alice Moyo, Shyline Dambamuromo (Faith Drive), Ennert Chemhere (Ubuntu)
Strikers: Natasha Ndowa (Blue Swallows), Rutendo Makore (Black Rhinos), Rudo Neshamba (Harare City), Maud Mafuruse (Faith Drive), Dinarose Banda (Queen Lozikeyi), Priviledge Mupeti.
Online Reporter