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GETTING READY . . . Mighty Warriors players go through their paces recently at Rufaro Stadium in preparation for their match against Cameroon in the Olympic Games last round qualifiers

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
MIGHTY Warriors assistant coach Sithethelelwe Sibanda has urged the senior women side to give their best when they take on Cameroon on Saturday at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé in the last round of the Olympic Games qualifiers.

Cameroon are coming into the game as the favourites considering that they are regarded as one of the strong teams in women’s football in the African continent.

They were at the World Cup in June and they reached the finals of the African Games held in Congo Brazzaville recently.

While Cameroon have been battling in such competitive events, Zimbabwe have had challenges with their preparations in this campaign since the qualifiers began early this year. And the team has had to resort to last minute preparations.

However, Sibanda said although their opponents appear to have the upper hand judging from their recent outings in continental and international assignments they will not go down without a fight.

“We are trying to really prepare ourselves tactically and also preparing the players psychologically because yes we cannot run away from the fact that Cameroon have been more competitive than us.

And recently they have just featured in the finals of the African Games but we still believe that regardless of their status our players are anticipating to get to the highest level in terms of them playing, so we are going to compete.

“It’s going to be a tough match but we are going to compete. We are expecting a good result from Cameroon, so we are preparing for them tactically,” said Sibanda.

The former Mighty Warriors midfielder said the team understands the importance of the game and that on its own is a motivation for them.

The players are really responding well to the training methods and everything that we are doing at training.

“The match itself is a very important match, it’s one of its kind where we are at a stage where we have never reached before. So it’s an important one for us as coaches and important for the players as well.

And I think we have tried to talk as a team and they (players) understand the importance of the match and they are raring to go,” said Sibanda.

Sibanda, known as “Kwinji 15” during her playing days expressed her excitement to be working with the senior women’s team.

“It’s a privilege really to work for your country at different stages, being a player, next being a coach and I feel like I am a role model to these players. I am sure they are also looking at playing and one of the days developing to become administrators, to be coaches, to be managers.

So I think it’s good for me and it’s good also for the players because they know from here they can go to somewhere,” said Sibanda.

It’s not yet certain if the team will fly out today as earlier indicated by ZIFA chief executive, Jonathan Mashingaidze early this week.

But the Zimbabwe Women Football executive was yesterday making frantic efforts to raise the needed money for the trip amid indications that they had also sent an SOS to Prophet Walter Magaya’s PHD Ministires.

Mighty Warriors Team

Chido Dzingirai, Lindiwe Magwede, Sheila Makoto, Lynette Mutokuto, Nobuhle Majika, Emmaculate Msipa, Rejoice Kapfumvuti, Rudo Neshamba, Erina Jeke, Marjory Nyaumwe, Felistas Muzongondi, Eunice Chibanda, Sifundile Moyo, Aldglade Bhamu, Chido Muhara, Faith Chasi, Rutendo Makore, Viola Ndlovu.