Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
MIGHTY Warriors forward, Samiah Phiri, says she is living her dream after finally getting the chance to represent Zimbabwe at international level.
The 23-year-old is one of the new faces in the Mighty Warriors camp called up by coach Stella Gotal for the two-legged first round of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games qualifier against Malawi.
A proven goal-scorer, with a powerful shot, Phiri, who has played for FC Nantes in France, is expected to come in handy in complementing veterans Rutendo Makore, Christabel Katona and Ethel Chinyerere in attack.
Yet, the USA-born player could have been playing for the Copper Queens of Zambia.
She was actually called up in a 38-member squad for a local camp in January as Zambia prepared for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco in July. Eventually, Zambian authorities decided not to issue her with Zambian documents as they failed to get any relevant information linking her to the country. The Zimbabwean window was already open for her since his father Stephen was born in Harare to a Zimbabwean mother before he moved to the United States aged just 11.
And, when the opportunity for her to play for the Mighty Warriors came, Phiri didn’t think twice.
Zimbabwe face Malawi in the first leg at the Bingu International Stadium on Friday with the second leg scheduled for the National Sports Stadium on Tuesday next week.
Phiri is keen to show what she can do in her bow and rallied the Mighty Warriors to get the first punch and pick a positive result in the first instalment.
Gotal has called several foreign-based players in the squad including England-based goalkeeper Tanyaradzwa Nyakuchena, Saliah Johnson, Timukudzeishe Mudziviri, Farirayi Kahudzai and Phiri.
