Young Mighty Warriors raring to go

Cup qualifiers.
The Mufakose Queens gaffer, who has made two changes to the team which thrashed Young Mambas in Harare a fortnight ago, said his troops were not complacent ahead of the tie and would only celebrate after 90 minutes. Zimbabwe triumphed 4-0 with striker Rufaro Machingura scoring a brace while midfielders Elizabeth Chaparangana and Emmaculate Msipa weighed in with a goal each.
Big striker Machingura is no longer part of the plot as she was expelled 10 minutes from time following a harsh tackle on the Mozambican defender and her place in this afternoon’s clash would be filled by Maggie Moyo.
Chaparangana, who also started on the bench at home before she was introduced in the first period to fire the team’s second goal, appears to have done well to justify a first team place and will today start ahead of Nomusa Bizecki on the right of the midfield.
“We are treating this match seriously and fielding the strongest possible team. We have been talking to the girls that the first win is now water under the bridge and they will only celebrate getting a next round place after the referee blows to end today’s match. “First they have to work for another good result. All along the players have been getting nothing out of playing football and they are motivated with the coming in of Marange.
“They now believe it is business and know that at the end of the day they will go back home with something in their hands for their families,” said Giwa. The gaffer said the players could even produce a better performance than what they did at home.
“The players are now feeling at home and shouldn’t have problems when the match kicks off in the humid conditions. We will only have a single training in the afternoon (yesterday) at match venue but I believe we are ready for Mozambique. “We will take the game to them and we are not holding anything back.
“We know what we want in this tournament and each passing game should be able to show us that we can do it and that we can face a bigger challenge like Nigeria,” said Giwa.
The junior side has not been short of experience as they have five senior players in the team and the players have led from the front.
Defensive midfielder Msipa, who had a blinding game in the capital before scoring a good volley, is expected to control the proceedings in the middle of the park. Teenage sensation Mavis “Madam Chair” Chirandu, the 15-year-old from Bindura Provincial club Auckland who troubled the Young Mambas on the left flank whipping in good crosses, should have another good game.
Mighty Warriors’ chief striker, Rudo Neshamba, will be operating behind the forwards-partnership of Rutendo Makore and Moyo. They are now starring the reality of setting up a clash with West African giants Nigeria, who reached 2010 World Cup finals and lost out to the hosts Germany, if they finish the business here this afternoon.
Probable Line-up
Portia Mukucha, Eunice Chibanda, Faith Chasi, Danai Bhobho, Rhodha Jongondi, Emmaculate Msipa, Elizabeth Chaparangana, Rudo Neshamba, Rutendo Makore, Maggie Moyo, Mavis Chirandu.
Weekend’s Fixtures
Mozambique v Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea v Mali, Cameroon v DRC, Kenya v Zambia, Tunisia v Morocco, Botswana v South Africa, Zambia v Kenya.