The ManicaPost
Fungayi Munyoro Sports Correspondent
MUTARE based Faith Drive midfielder Concilia Madotsa, who feels honoured to be included in the Zimbabwe Mighty Warriors squad that will travel to South Africa for the Cosafa Women’s Championship, believes the team has the capacity to win the tournament.
The Cosafa Women’s Championship will get underway in Port Elizabeth, South Africa from September 12-22.
Zimbabwe are in Group C together with Swaziland, Namibia and guest nation Uganda.
The Mighty Warriors trooped into camp on early this week and will be leaving for South Africa on Monday.
Madotsa displayed good football when she received her first national team call-up in a friendly match played in Mozambique last week.
The midfielder was one of the goal scorers that saw the Mighty Warriors winning 6-2.
Madotsa is delighted to be handed her second national team call-up and has promised to use the chance to impress the team’s technical team for future assignments.
She is one of the three players, from Faith Drive who were called for camp by Mighty Warriors’ coach Sithethelelwe Sibanda.
Other two players from Faith Drive include striker Maud Mafuruse and 18- year old Nyamauru High School goalkeeper Cynthia Shonga.
“I am very happy to be part of the team that will travel to South Africa. It will give me an opportunity to showcase what I am made of.
“I am very grateful to my coach Sithethelelwe Sibanda who has included me in the team. It will really motivate me and I will work very hard. It is really an honour. I played very well last week in a friendly match against Mozambique. I came in as a substitution and I played in the last 10 minutes but I managed to score one goal.
“I am following in my father’s footsteps because he was also a soccer player. He used to take me along everywhere he would go,” she said.
After their opening match against Namibia on September 14, Zimbabwe will take on Swaziland in the second group game the following day before winding up their group matches against East African guest nation Uganda on September 17.
12 countries will be taking part and have been grouped into three pools of four teams each.
South Africa have won the Cosafa Women’s Championship on four occasions in 2002, 2006, 2008 and 2017. They also made the final in 2011, but lost to hosts Zimbabwe.
Mighty Warriors coach Sibanda said she is expecting stiff competition.
“All the groups are tough and we just have to work extra hard to achieve our target, there is no easy group really. We are really expecting a tough tournament. Football has developed a lot in most African countries,” said Sibanda
Goalkeepers: Shebba Rauli (Auckland), Chido Dzingirai (Correctional), Lindiwe Magwede (Cyclone Stars), Cynthia Shonga (Faith Drive)
Defenders: Sheila Makoto (Blue Swallows), Lynett Mutokuto (Black Rhinos), Sarudzai Chikowore (Harare City), Edline Mutumbami (Blue Swallows), Danai Bhobho (Harare City), Nobuhle Majika (M.S. U), Nobukhosi Ncube (Correctional), Sithembile Nyoni (Weerams), Diana Nyika (M.S. U)
Midfielders: Emmaculate Msipa (Black Rhinos), Marjory Nyaumwe (Correctional), Mavis Chirandu (Black Rhinos), Greater Bande (Cyclone Stars), Rumbidzai Zhoya (Auckland), Felistas Muzongondi (Black Rhinos), Peacemore Kenende (Inline Academy), Evermore Mutandwa (Weerams), Kudzanayi Chiparausha (Blue Swallows), Concilia Madotsa (Faith Drive)
Strikers: Maud Mafuruse (Faith Drive), Rutendo Makore (Black Rhinos), Erina Jeke (Correctional), Berita Kabwe (Correctional), Shamiso Mutasa (Harare City), Elizabeth Bvunzawabaya (Cyclone Stars), Susan Nyama (Herentals).
Group A: South Africa, Botswana, Madagascar and Malawi
Group B: Zambia, Cameroon, Lesotho and Mozambique
Group C: Zimbabwe, Uganda, Swaziland and Namibia.
