adminSenior Sports Reporter
MIGHTY Warriors and Buffaloes goalkeepers’ gaffer, Peter Masibera, might not have been there when it all started, but his contribution together with fellow new technical staff members in this history making national senior women’s squad has received recognition, not only from the players, but fans and administrators as well.
Masibera and his boss, Shadreck Mlauzi, together with assistant coach, Sithetheliwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda were thrust in the deep end just a month before the trip to Younde, Cameroon for the reverse fixture of the Olympics final qualifier where they went down 1-2 and to their credit managed to secure the all important away goal.
The away goal ensured Zimbabwe progress to the Rio Games on a 3-2 scoreline after the Mighty Warriors beat Cameroon by a solitary goal in Harare last Sunday.
The new Mighty Warriors’ technical staff came in following the exit of Mebelo Njekwa, who was head coach, Rosemary Mugadza’s assistant, goalkeepers’ coach, Ndega Matsika and kit manager, Fungai Nyamutukwa.
Interestingly, Masibera’s replaced fellow Mutare soccer personality, Matsika, in the new Mighty Warriors technical staff set-up.
Today Masibera revels in the Mighty Warriors glory and the highly likely possibility that he will be part of the squad travelling to Rio de Janeiro come August 2016.
“I am happy that we have managed to qualify for the Olympics. It is an achievement worthy celebrating, not only for myself, but the entire nation.“I think the team has a lot of potential. It is also imperative to note that the two week-long camp that we had helped us to gel and produce the result that everyone can celebrate.
“It actually shows that only if we get adequate time to prepare we will never get it wrong. We have the talent that can match other nations, but our weakness has been that we have been failing to get enough time to prepare.
“It is always good to represent your country in whatever capacity. Zimbabweans love football, therefore putting smiles on their faces owing to success in soccer is all that every player and coach wants when given the chance to represent the nation,” said Masibera.
It has taken a good 35 years for the country to have a representative football team at global competition, but the age old jinx was broken – thanks to the heroic antics of the national senior women soccer team.Zimbabweans have been armchair analysts or fans during major international football competitions, being mere spectators without taking part as several age group teams took turns to fall by the wayside as other nations progressed.
Our well documented administrative shortcomings have been our Achilles Heel, while Lady Luck has also eluded us in defining moments of several qualifying campaigns.
Masibera expressed confidence that the team will compete well in the Rio Games only if they get adequate preparations.
“I have no doubt that we can stand our own in Rio only if we get adequate preparations. The whole issue boils down to issues of preparedness. You surely cannot expect to do well after going into camp two or three days before big, competitive matches.
“As for the goalkeepers, I think we have depth and talent. We only need to make sure that we have three or four goalkeepers ready when we go for the tournament. It is a big tournament that one would not rely on just two goalkeepers,” said Masibera.
Zimbabwe Women Soccer League board member (competitions), Cecilia Gambe, who was on cloud nine for the greater part of this week, told Post Sport that time has come for the progressive Zimbabweans to work together for the good of the Mighty Warriors’ future.
The outspoken football administrator said it was time for the nation to rally behind the girls.
“I think we have been able to create a brand in the Mighty Warriors. They have been successful beyond expectations. We are quite aware that there are many people who now want to be associated with this success, yet when we were struggling to raise funds for the team some of them were shutting their doors before us.
“Some Government ministers had no time for us, but today we are actually shocked to learn that they also love football. Be that as it may, we are now saying time has come for the progressive Zimbabweans to work together for the good of the Mighty Warriors’ future,” she said.
Gambe defended the decision to relieve the Mugadza-led technical department just a month before the away first leg tie against Cameroon in Younde.
“I am sure we have been vindicated. We were battered left, right and centre when we relieved them (Mugadza-led technical department) of their duties, but we had seen the loopholes in their approach to business within the Mighty Warriors’ camp.
“Even the players can tell you that things have changed. The approach is now different. Mugadza and crew were fired for failure and nothing else. After all I was also there about nine years ago when we appointed Mugadza, but what did she achieve? I am not saying she is a bad coach, but time was ripe to have new faces and a new way to do things. We did just that and it worked well for us,” said Gambe.
Online Reporter