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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
ZIFA spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela yesterday said they are still working on the logistics for a friendly match between the Mighty Warriors and Botswana as part of their preparations for the Olympic Games and the Africa Women Cup of Nations qualifiers.

While the Olympics are in August, the Mighty Warriors’ immediate assignment is against Tanzania early next month in the Cup of Nations first round qualifiers.

The first leg is set for the weekend of March 4 to 6.

And last week ZIFA technical director, Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe, indicated that the senior women side will take on Botswana in a friendly match during the camp in Bulawayo.

Yesterday Gwesela said they were still working on logistics for the game to take place.

“We are currently working on the logistics. It won’t happen this weekend. We are fighting that by next week we should have the match and hopefully by Monday we should have the date.

“We spoke to them (Botswana) and we are still negotiating with them and definitely the match should take place,” said Gwesela.

The team has been in camp since Monday with players going through the anthropometric test and fitness tests.

Mighty Warriors coach, Shadreck Mlauzi, said the friendly match will help them gauge their state of preparedness ahead of the Tanzania game.

“We are just keeping our fingers crossed, the importance of the friendly match cannot be overemphasised. It’s an opportunity to assess players and an opportunity to test certain combinations. And also we can fine tune our strategies.

“It’s also an opportunity to improve our match fitness so it has got a multi-purpose role,” said Mlauzi.

His assistant coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda said their focus for this week has been on improving the fitness of players.

“We are busy on a lot of basics and endurance because we are just starting our season. We need to service the fitness components, basically strength because when you go into those high level competitions, its strength first and then all other things can come in.