adminoccasion when they clash against Tanzania in a warm-up match at the National Sports Stadium here tomorrow afternoon.
Zimbabwe play the Twiga Stars in their second international friendly, having dated Zambia two weeks ago in Hwange, as preparations for the first leg clash against Nigeria, in the last round of the qualifiers, gather momentum.
The Mighty Warriors believe — with the right preparations — they can surprise the African powerhouse and World Cup finalists and progress to the Africa Cup of Nations finals, to be hosted in Equatorial Guinea in October.
Addressing a media conference here, Chingawo, flanked by her coach Rose Mugadza and women’s football chairperson Mavis Gumbo, said the friendly match will show them how far they have gone with their preparations.
“We have been in camp since last month and we have been working really hard and back home we played another match against Zambia,” said Chingawo.
“And the coaches have been working with us rectifying the mistakes they observed.
“This game will give us another opportunity to see how far have we have gone before we host Nigeria in two weeks.
“Tanzania are a good team and we have to be at our best.
“We have new players in the squad who did not feature in the preliminary round against Botswana and they have brought competition and really fitted into the team.
“If we play badly here then we will be worried as the match (against Nigeria) is now close. We know what we want from Nigeria and we are not even looking at the fact that they beat our junior side.”
Defenders Lilian Masase, Viola Ndlovu and Tallet Mazetesa have been drafted into the squad and featured in the match against She-polopolo and gave a good account of themselves.
Goalkeeper Chido Dzingirai and striker Rudo Neshamba were dropped from the 18-member-team which traveled here.
Dzingirai, who missed five training sessions, was axed on disciplinary grounds while chief striker Neshamba was dropped due to a nagging ankle injury.
Young Mighty Warriors’ goalie, Portia Mukucha, replaced Dzingirai while Rufaro Machingura is also back into the Mighty Warriors fold after she last featured for the senior team last year.
“We have played Tanzania twice before and they gave us good competition. In the first match we beat them on penalties after we had settled for a draw in a Cosafa semi-final match in Harare,” said Mugadza.
“We met again in Mozambique at the All-Africa Games and we had another draw – 2-2.
“So, our matches have been pretty tough and we are expecting another tough encounter which should help us as we prepare for Nigeria.
“We know Tanzania played Nigeria at the 2010 Afcon in South Africa and lost 1-2 and this should also give us a good measure on how far have we gone with the preparations.”
Tanzania are also using the match to prepare for their Afcon clash with neighbours Ethiopia following their 7-2 rout of Namibia in the preliminary round early this year.
And the team’s spokesperson, Boniface Wambura, at the same briefing said that it is their first friendly match and are confident it will also help them.
“We did well in our first match against Namibia but we know that we are now facing tough opposition in Ethiopia,” said Wambura.
“They are a good side and had a good run in the Olympic qualifiers and were beaten to the London ticket by South Africa in the last round of the qualifiers.
“It is our first friendly match but we have been training and we are happy to be playing Zimbabwe and we believe they will give us a good game. We want to qualify
again for the Africa Cup of Nations as you know 2010 was our first time to go to the finals.”
Mighty Warriors Squad
Onai Chingawo, Portia Mukucha, Manyara Mandara, Nobuhle Majika, Sheila Makoto, Danai Bhobho, Rutendo Makore, Felistas Muzongondi, Emmaculate Msipa,
Marjoury Nyaumwe, Erina Jeke, Kuda Basopo, Nokuthula Ndlovu, Samukelisiwe Zulu, Viola Ndlovu, Tallet Mazetesa, Lilian Masase, Rufaro Machingura.
Online Reporter