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Shadreck Mlauzi

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
IN-FORM Hearts of Oak midfielder Happy Gumbo’s exploits have earned her a Mighty Warriors call-up to prepare for the forthcoming Africa Women Cup of Nations finals set for Cameroon next month.

Gumbo, a former Cowdray Park Queens player, moved to Hearts of Oak this season at the same time with former Mighty Warriors striker Ntombi Tsola Ndlovu and coach Evans Netha .

Mighty Warriors coach Shadreck Mlauzi said Gumbo had shown some flashes of brilliance, which could be crucial to the national team’s cause at the continental showpiece.

“She is inexperienced, yes, and we can’t just say we will throw her into the deep end, but we are going to assess her like every other player called into camp,” said Mlauzi, who watched Gumbo in action against Street Set in a Southern Region Women Football League encounter on Saturday.

The Mighty Warriors gaffer said they will continue scouting for talented players for the squad and warned that no one was guaranteed a seat on the plane to the finals in Cameroon.

“Having gone to Brazil for the Olympics will not be a barometer on who is going and who is not.

“Football is played in the present, not in the past, and as such we will continue searching for talent, just like Happy, and assess them during camp and if impressed, we will definitely take them along,” said Mlauzi.

Zimbabwe are in Group B with neighbours South Africa, Egypt and hosts Cameroon, but concerns have been mounting on the clearly disappointing preparatory path the girls have been subjected to by Zifa.

Just like their Olympic misery, the Mighty Warriors are most likely going to the finals without playing a friendly match unless something dramatic happens between now and mid-November.

Zifa had courted Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia for possible friendlies, but the three countries haven’t responded to the invitations — @skhumoyo2000.