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Zifa Communications manager Xolisani Gwesela

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
THE Mighty Warriors will have to wait a little bit longer before they can start their preparations for the All-Africa Games and Olympic Games qualifiers after the four-nation tournament that was being organised by Botswana was cancelled.Zimbabwe had been invited to take part in the tournament but the organisers have since cancelled the event after they failed to secure two more countries to participate.

The tournament was scheduled to run from January 30 to February 1 in Gaborone.

In a letter to ZIFA, the Botswana Football Association noted that they could not continue with the tournament as the other invited countries have not shown interest to participate.

“Botswana Football Association regrets to inform your office that the proposed tournament shall not take place as the other invited countries to attend the four nations tournament have not shown interest of coming to take part,” wrote Keith Masters, the chief executive of the BFA.

ZIFA had accepted the invitation to send the Mighty Warriors for the three-day tournament as part of the preparations for the All-Africa Games and Olympic Games qualifiers.

Zifa communications officer, Xolisani Gwesela, said details concerning the team’s preparations will be announced in due course as the national association tries to come up with another programme for the team.

“Details about the preparations will be announced in due course but obviously we are planning something,” said Gwesela.

This leaves the Mighty Warriors in a difficult position considering that time is not on their side and they have not done anything to prepare for both the All-Africa Games and the Olympic Games qualifiers.

Last year the team blew away the opportunity to play at the African Women’s Championships in what appeared to be the easiest draw for qualification when they lost to Zambia in the last round of the qualifiers.

The defeat to Zambia signalled a power shift in the game as Zimbabwe had for years dominated their opponents.

And judging from the way the team performed last year it would have been ideal for them to start their preparations early if the nation is entertaining any hopes of qualifying for both competitions.