Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze, Zimpapers Sports Hub
A new era for the Mighty Warriors begins in earnest this week as newly appointed head coach Stella Gotal starts attending women’s football matches to familiarise herself with and assess the quality of local talent available in the country.
The new coach will be in the stands when the Zifa Munhumutapa Challenge Cup Round of 16 unfolds, with FC Platinum Royals taking on Correctional Queens and Kwekwe Queens squaring off against Harare City Queens in the weekend’s headline fixtures.
Gotal’s presence offers a lifeline to players who have long been overlooked at national team level, with the coach keen to rebuild the side for the future.
Among those hoping to catch her eye are fringe players from the previous era, unheralded talents, academy graduates and other emerging stars, all of whom will have an opportunity to impress and force their way into the national set-up.
“I will start to attend some local games so that I familiarise with the faces and the type of talent that we have. I also understand there is a tournament for the young ones, so I am attending that as well while the weekend brings the national tournament (Munhumutapa Challenge Cup) into the picture. We will have to balance all that,” she said.
While a vast pool of emerging talent will be targeting a breakthrough, even greater scrutiny is likely to fall on the established players.
Celebrated stars including Daisy Kaitano, Sheila Antonio, Rutendo Makore, Christabel Katona, Priviledge Mupeti, Bridget Mutaurwa and Cynthia Shonga will all need to impress the new technical team if they are to safeguard their places in the squad.
Under Gotal and her assistant Arthur Gorejena, pedigree alone will not be enough to secure a call-up, with form, fitness, technical ability and discipline all expected to play a key role in selection.
The coach brings not only experience, but also belief and a clear vision to establish a pathway from grassroots football to a senior national team capable of competing on the international stage.
More specifically, she has been tasked with building a Mighty Warriors side capable of qualifying for either the FIFA Women’s World Cup or the Olympic Games by 2028.
As a result, she will work closely with junior national team coaches to ensure that talented young players can be identified and considered for promotion to the senior side.
“We want to see who is performing now, who has the potential, who performed last year so that we strike a balance of both fresh legs and experienced players on the team,” she said.
“We are not shutting the old players out, but we are also not guaranteeing spots because I believe the national team jersey should be earned on merit. Assistant coach is familiar with the local game, so his presence preserves some continuity and makes life easier for me and the other new guys we are working with.”
Gotal will also turn her attention to the diaspora as she seeks to scout Zimbabwean talent based in South Africa, Europe, the United States and other parts of the world.
While she acknowledges that established internationals playing abroad remain in the frame, the coach stressed that their places in the team are far from guaranteed.
Zimbabwe face regional rivals Malawi in October in a crucial second-round Olympic qualifying tie to be played over two legs.
The coach is aiming to assemble a squad capable of securing Zimbabwe’s second appearance at the Olympic Games after the Mighty Warriors made history with their debut participation in 2016.
The October showdown against Malawi is expected to provide Gotal with her first significant test and an opportunity to determine which players are best suited to her pressing, high-tempo style of play.
Her coaching philosophy is built around modern tactical awareness and intensity.
“I like it when a team is organised, disciplined and proactive for us to play with high intensity and confidence. Players should be able to adapt, it is key for me because every opponent that we will play, we will have to adapt and come up with a play that matches the particular opponent,” she said.
Armed with a Master’s degree in Kinesiology, Gotal also places significant emphasis on strength and conditioning as she lays the foundations for a competitive and physically robust Mighty Warriors squad.
Munhumutapa Challenge Cup
Women fixtures
Las Palmas vs Herentals Under-19; Hardrock Queens vs Black Mamba’s Queens; Scottland Queens vs Herentals Queens; Kwekwe vs Harare City Queens; Maningi Queens vs Faith Drive Academy; Chegutu Community Queens vs Black Rhinos Queens; FC Platinum Royals vs Correctional Queens; Chapungu Queens vs Mpopoma Sports Academy
