Mugadza optimistic ahead of Bots tie

The Mighty Warriors are here for their African Women Championships preliminary round, first leg tie against Botswana set for University of Gaborone Stadium tomorrow.
Botswana is in ecstasy as it basks in the glory of the senior men team’s qualification for the Nations Cup finals for the first time in the country’s history.
And many of the football fans here believe the women are about to embark on a similar fairytale journey in their bid to also qualify for the Nations Cup finals.
The tournament will be held in Equatorial Guinea this October.
Zimbabwe are playing in the qualifiers after failing to host the tournament following an initial offer by Caf for us to stage the event.
But Zimbabwe could not get the Government guarantee in time and Caf passed the baton to Equatorial Guinea, who are co-hosting this year’s men’s edition of the Nations Cup with Gabon.
Mighty Warriors coach Rosemary Mugadza believes her team will not be distracted by the football fever gripping the host nation and will return home with one foot in the next round.
Zimbabwe have won all three Africa Women Championships qualifying campaigns they have participated in since 2000, playing at the continental showcase in 2000 in South Africa, 2002 in Nigeria and 2004, again in South Africa.
From then, the team was not registered in the qualifiers and did not take part in the 2006 edition in Nigeria, 2008 in Equatorial Guinea and the last edition which was hosted by South Africa in 2010.
Mugadza, who captained the team in the first Afcon tournament in Johannesburg in 2000, believes her charges are expected to do better than the previous groups of Mighty Warriors.
The Mighty Warriors’ class of 2000 had veterans such as Nomsa “Boyz” Moyo, Ruth Banda, Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda and reached the semi-finals of the tournament.
Now Mugadza, with her youthful class, wants another dance at the showcase which has been won by Nigeria a record eight times.
Equatorial Guinea won it once when they hosted it in 2008.
“We are here on a mission to regain our place at the Africa Cup of Nations finals,” said Mugadza.
“Since 2000 when we began to play in the tournament we have never failed to qualify.
“And we are hoping to qualify again this year despite the fact that we would be meeting powerhouse and record champions Nigeria in the last qualifying round if we beat Botswana.
“We should be rising as a team despite the inactivity we experienced for some years.
“And to be adequately prepared for the task ahead we need to convincingly win against Botswana and make sure that we are ready for opposition from a big team like Nigeria.”
The coach believes the hosts will not give the Mighty Warriors the game on a silver platter and, with the smell of success and victory all over here, Botswana are also confident of doing well.
They failed to progress to the finals of the 2008 and 2010 Afcon editions.
“They (Botswana) are really serious and are not taking any chances,” said Mugadza.
“They have been in camp for the past two months and badly want to progress.”
Mugadza believes their opponents, who came to Harare last year for the Cosafa Championships and bowed out in the first round, should not be underestimated.
“It is a different competition altogether and the team obviously has improved.
“They were not a bad side at that tournament and we know what they are capable of doing. We know one of their players, a gifted, pacy winger at Inline Academy in Bulawayo.
“This is a fresh tournament and a new game and there is no room for complacency.
“Our players are aware of that. They are focused and know what we want from here,” said Mugadza.
The Mighty Warriors conducted their first training session yesterday morning and the technical department was left satisfied with the way the players responded to the call of duty.
They will have a feel of the match venue this afternoon as they continue to adjust to the hot weather conditions here.
The Mighty Warriors have been able to focus fully in the quest for victory against Botswana, whom they will host in two weeks time.
The team received a donation of $30 000 from mining firm Marange Diamonds for their airfares and allowances.
Meanwhile, match officials from the Democratic Republic of Congo – referee Destinee Yego and assistants Alida Mouegni and Teske Ngouno – will handle the match.
The fourth official is Grace Msiska from Malawi.
The match commissioner, Regina Chimba, is from Zambia.
Interestingly, the Mighty Warriors reunite with the match officials who handled their All-Africa Games qualifier match against Angola in Dundo last year.
Ironically, in that match, the match officials performed poorly as they appeared to be favouring the hosts.