The ManicaPost
Fungayi Munyoro Sports Correspondent
WITH less than a month before the start of the Cosafa Women Championships, the Mighty Warriors are yet to begin preparations.
Zimbabwe are one of the 12 nations that will participate in the regional football tournament, which will be hosted by the defending champions South Africa from July 31-August 11 in Port Elizabeth.
While other nations have launched their preparations for the tournament, the Mighty Warriors are yet to select a training squad for the tournament.
Mighty Warriors coach Sithethelelwe ‘Kwinji 15’ Sibanda was not sure on Wednesday when the team would start their preparations.
“I am not sure when we are going to get into camp. I am still waiting for the official communication from Zifa and I hope it is going to be soon since we are running out of time,” she said.
Mighty Warriors have been drawn in Group C together with Mozambique, Angola and Eswatini.
The hosts and defending champions South Africa are in Group A with Malawi, Comoros and Madagascar. Group B is made up of Zambia, Namibia, Mauritius and Botswana.
The tournament will run concurrently with the inaugural Cosafa Women U-20 Championship where Zimbabwe national Under-20 side is inGroup A with the hosts South Africa, Namibia, and Malawi. Group B has Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania and Eswatini.
Preparations for the Mighty Warriors’ games have often been shambolic, disjointed and farcical. Zifa have literally not been bothered by the Mighty Warriors, unlike their male counterparts. Despite their dismal performance at the just ended Afcon championships, the senior national team always have adequate preparations.
Countless times they have not been paid. This no doubt, dampens the morale in the camp.Last year Mighty Warriors were brutally exposed for their lack of preparations after crashing out in the group stages.
Zim finished second in Group C after two wins against Namibia and Swaziland before a 2-1 loss to Uganda.
Only group winners were guaranteed progression to the semi-finals.
Sibanda is optimistic that this time around her girls will pass the group stages.
“I hope we will do better this time around. I am targeting to go beyond the group stages. I think it is a fair draw for us but it is going to be fairer as we go there and collect points in each and every game,” she said.
