Mugadza targets Mighty Warriors win

From Grace Chingoma
in LUSAKA, Zambia.
MIGHTY Warriors coach Rose-mary Mugadza, eager to finish off the Zambians in the All-Africa Games qualifiers, has rung changes to the team which narrowly won in the reverse leg at Rufaro two weeks ago.
The Zimbabwe senior women national team, which left Harare by road on Thursday morning, arrived here in the evening after a six-hour journey.
Yesterday, the Mighty Warriors conducted their first workout at the Barclays Sports Club and coach Mugadza said she was confident they would get a positive result.
Zimbabwe needs at least a draw in tomorrow’s encounter at Nkoloma Stadium.
And after watching her troops battling to contain their opponents in the first leg, Mugadza has thrust in a fresh pair of legs up-front.
In the reverse encounter Erina Jeke and Kudakwashe Bhasopo started and found the going tough and rarely threatened their hosts.
“Under-20 forward Rudo Neshamba and Rufaro Machingura will be starting for us,” said Mugadza.
“In the first match our strikers struggled to match the physical side of our opponents and were barely visible. I believe this new combination should stand its own ground against Zambia.
“We have also made changes in the defence following the injury to our centreback Patience Mujuru after she failed to recover from the nagging knee problem so we have replaced her with Nobuhle Majika.
“Emmaculate Msipa is also going to start otherwise the rest of the team remains the same.”
The former Mighty Warriors’ captain said they would be hoping for an early goal to unsettle the hosts.
“If we can manage to score an early goal that should work in favour. We will not approach this game with a defensive attitude,” said Mugadza.
“The best way to defend is to attack and actually we would want to score more goals here.
“A draw would suit us but we are not going to approach our match with that mindset because we would want to win the match and progress well.”
The coach said her troops should be able to play their normal game away from home after they struggled with fluency in the opening stages of the first leg.
“We are used to a small crowd in our league matches and the big attendance at Rufaro affected us and the team took time to settle,” said Mugadza.
“They had stage fright, but here they should play well, without any pressure.”
Former CAPS FC and Monomotapa gaffer Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe, who has been roped in as the technical adviser, said the team was in good shape.
“I found this team playing good football and if they build on their second half performance in Harare we will come out victors,” said Jongwe.
Once again captain Nomsa “Boys” Moyo will have to contend with a place on the bench as age is fast catching up with her.
The delegation also paid a courtesy call on the Zimbabwean Embassy here where ambassador Lovemore Mazemo urged the team to fly the country’s flag.
Probable Starting XI
O. Chingawo, E. Chibanda, R. Mutyavaviri, N. Majika, L.Masase, E. Msipa, T. Mairosi, N. Ndlovu, M. Nyaumwe, R. Neshamba, R. Machingura.