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Mighty Warriors

Ellina Mhlanga, Sports Reporter
MIGHTY Warriors’ trio of Chido Dzingirai, Rudo Neshamba and Erina Jeke have been ruled out of Sunday’s friendly match against South Africa at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa, Johannesburg.

This will be the Mighty Warriors’ first international friendly match towards their preparations for the Olympic Games in August. They are expected to leave this morning with the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee catering for the travelling expenses.

Dzingirai, who is the team’s number one goalkeeper, strikers Neshamba and Jeke will not feature in the weekend’s game because of knee injuries.

The team’s assistant coach, Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda said they need to create a broad base for selection as injuries continue to haunt the senior women’s side.

“They are out, they are injured. Erina Jeke has a nagging knee injury as well as Rudo Neshamba.

“This friendly match we are going to use it to assess some of the players that we really didn’t give time to play. And they can only gain experience by playing especially in friendly matches so that we don’t cry foul when some of the players are injured.

“We are trying to really incorporate some of these youngsters into the team. When we played those qualifiers some of these players we never gave them a chance to play. So such friendlies they can be used to assess some of the payers, so that we at least create for ourselves a wider base for selection,” said Sibanda.

Manyara Mandara comes in to replace Dzingirai while defenders Danai Bhobho and Nobukhosi Ncube, who were part of the Under-20 team join the senior team for Sunday’s encounter.

“We have got the likes of Danai Bhobho, she used to play but with the Under-20s. She is back now, she was once on maternity. And then we have Nobukhosi Ncube she also used to be with the Under-20s but had not yet played in any match for the seniors.

“Those are just some of the few players we want to incorporate into the team,” said Sibanda.

Zimbabwe Olympic Committee chief executive, Anna Mguni said it’s important to assess the team’s progress so far.

“We purchased the tickets for them to go. It’s important for us to see how far they have gone with the preparations. For them to play South Africa it’s very critical because they (South Africa) are also an Olympic bound team,” said Mguni.

This will be the Mighty Warriors’ first international friendly match towards their preparations for the Olympics.

Team: Lindiwe Magwede, Manyara Mandara, Nobukhosi Ncube, Danai Bhobho, Nobuhle Majika, Sheila Makoto, Daisy Kaitano, Rejoice Kapfumvuti, Talent Mandaza, Kudakwashe Basopo, Samkelisiwe Zulu, Felistas Muzongondi, Marjory Nyaumwe, Emmaculate Msipa, Ruvimbo Mutyavaviri, Eunice Chibanda, Sibonginkosi Nleya, Mavis Chirandu.

Officials: Shadreck Mlauzi (coach), Sithethelewe Sibanda (assistant coach),Yohanne Chikaola  (assistant coach), Peter Masibera (goalkeeper’s coach), Charity Munemo (team manager), Dorothy Masawi (team doctor) , Sharon Mashingaidze (team physiotherapist), Barry Daka (technical advisor).