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Sports Reporter
THE Mighty Warriors are back in action after four months of inactivity and began their training camp at Barclays Sports Club yesterday ahead of a four-team tournament scheduled for Lesotho early next month. The Zimbabwe women’s soccer team last played an international friendly against Banyana Banyana in South Africa in June.

It has been a quite year for the team as the Cosafa tournament, which was also supposed to have been played this month, was cancelled.
But the team, which would be playing the Africa Cup Nations qualifiers from February next year, has awoken from the slumber to start the preparations.

Last month, Zimbabwe were drawn against neighbours Botswana in the preliminary round of the African Cup of Nations which would be played next February.

The Mighty Warriors were also drawn against the same opponents last year and progressed to the first round where they lost to Nigeria and failed to participate at the continental showpiece.

However, this year the team got a fair draw and if they win against Botswana they will face the winner between Zambia and Tanzania in the final qualifying round of the tournament which will be staged in Namibia in 2014.

Mighty Warriors coach Rosemary Mugadza is now hoping to use the invitational tournament to launch her preparations for the qualifiers.
In Maseru, Zimbabwe will play against the hosts, Swaziland. and Botswana

The tournament would be played on November 2 and 3.
The coach has called up a squad of 25 players and it’s a combination of the seasoned players as well as players who have graduated from the Under-20 team.

Young Mighty Warriors players Greater Banda, Kudzi Chiparausha, Sibongi Muleya, Prisca Khumalo and Margaret Kawinga are the new players who have graduated into the senior team.

Team manager Charity Munemo said they would be using the tournament to prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers
“The team began training today. There are a number of players from the Under-20 national team that have been called into camp. Some of the regular Mighty Warriors’ players such as Rudo Neshamba, Rutendo Makore and Rhodha Jongondi have been excused.

“Rudo and Rhodha have been excused as they are writing examinations while Rutendo has got an injury,” said Munemo.

Squad
Chido Dzingirai, Lindiwe Magwede, Portia Mukucha, Ruvimbo Mutyavaviri, Emmaculate Msipa, Kudzanai Chiparaushe, Locadia Mugavazi, Greater Banda, Tafadzwa Tsunguro, Marjoury Nyaumwe, Rutendo Pote, Melody Musasa, Erina Jeke, Rufaro Machingura, Talent Mandaza, Violet Bepete, Patience Mujuru, Sibongi Muleya, Nobuhle Majika, Prisca Khumalo, Mavis Chirandu, Sicelo Dube, Margret Kawinga, Samantha Peters.