Fungai Muderere
MIGHTY Warriors head coach Shadreck Mlauzi feels the ongoing COSAFA Women’s Championships in South Africa has handed the country a springboard to make a mark on the international scene.
This comes as the country has endured a year and half of football isolation owing to a Fifa suspension, that had seen the country’s flagship sides being isolated from international competition.
The Rudo Neshamba-captained Mighty Warriors are on Friday set to plunge into their first competitive match when they face Lesotho at Pretoria’s Lucas Moripe.
The Mighty Warriors held their first training session in Mzansi on Wednesday after they arrived in the neighbouring country on Tuesday.
On their arrival in South Africa, Mlauzi had a brief chat with Zimpapers Sports Hub, and he revealed how ready they were for the contest.
“Judging from our training programme, our players are pretty much looking sharp. Many teams are going to have problems keeping us at bay.
The objective is clear, COSAFA is a means to an end. We are using it as a platform to make a bold statement that we are back in international football,” said Mlauzi.
Mlauzi said the ultimate goal would be to qualify for a major tournament in the process building junior national teams.
“Coming from a backdrop of junior systems being neglected it’s an opportunity to broaden our squad and build an extremely competitive team for the future. Having said this it’s to make a mark. We should play good possession-based and attacking football knowing fully well we are carrying the hopes of the nation,”said Mlauzi.
The 21 Mighty Warriors:
Goalkeepers: Cynthia Shonga, Chido Dzingirai, Lindiwe Magwede
Defenders: Eunice Chibanda, Vimbai Mharadzi, Nobukhosi Ncube, Edine Mutumbami, Thelma Masawi, Purity Mugayi, Nokukhanya Ndlovu, Daisy Kaitano
Midfielders: Alice Moyo, Ennety Sandile, Tanyaradzwa Chihoro, Patience Nyarai Ndlovu, Privilege Mupeti.
Strikers: Rudo Neshamba, Shyline Dambamuromo, Praynance Zvawanda, Maudy Mafuruse, Christabel Katona.