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Rudo Neshamba

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
MIGHTY Warriors coach Shadreck Mlauzi believes they have a good chance of qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games after a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Cameroon on Saturday in the first leg of the last qualifying round.

Zimbabwe went into the game with the odds pinned against them as the team arrived in Yaoundé in the early hours of Saturday because of financial challenges haunting ZIFA.

The Mighty Warriors were the first to score through Rudo Neshamba and Mlauzi was full of praise for his charges.

“The girls really put up a spirited fight against all odds. The Cameroonians never gave us a chance but the girls put up a gallant performance,” said Mlauzi.

“It was a great performance where everyone contributed towards the result that came out.

“For a prolonged period the home team was chasing for a result, we scored an early goal and for 75 minutes we kept them at bay but because of the fact that we did not get enough time to rest and acclimatise to the conditions, they got their goals.

“We arrived in Yaoundé at 2am on Saturday ahead of the game and slept at 3am. And under those circumstances at some stage we were going to suffer from a lapse of concentration.

“Our opponents knew our handicap so at the end of the day the opposition played at great intensity for 90 minutes.”

Mlauzi noted that the away goal they got is important for the team as they prepare for the second leg to be played in two weeks time at Rufaro.

Zimbabwe now need, at least, a 1-0 win over Cameroon to qualify for the Olympics.

“For us coaches it was a victory and again the away goal becomes an important element. We were pleased with the performance.

“The Cameroonians were at the FIFA World Cup in June and they went for another tournament, the African Games, so they were at several tournaments whilst we were inactive.

“But really our girls came through, the Cameroonians were frustrated at some point,” said Mlauzi.

Mlauzi said there was need for the team to have adequate preparations for the second leg and urged the nation to rally behind the senior women side.

“Going forward it is important that we get all the support because the nation must understand that we are at the verge of doing something great.

“With the desire and intensity which the girls played with in Cameroon it’s not beyond us, we can win this game.

“We are positive about everything and hopefully the help will come through. We remained positive despite the hassles we went through,” said Mlauzi.

The Mighty Warriors came back in the early hours of yesterday and ZIFA spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said the team will remain in camp preparing for the return leg.