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The Mighty warriors

Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
ZIMBABWE’S senior women national football team is ready for Wednesday’s Cosafa women’s Championship kickoff against Madagascar with coach Sithethelwe Sibanda confident of going all the way to the final.

The Mighty Warriors take on Madagascar in their opening Group A encounter at Barbourfields and it will be the start of a campaign they hope will see them defend the regional title they last won at the same venue in 2011.

Mighty Warriors coach said they have set themselves the target of reaching the final.

She said they have been working flat out to ensure that they are ready to make the nation proud when they square off in the regional meet.

The Mighty Warriors are in Group A together with Madagascar, Zambia and Malawi.

Sibanda said while Zifa had not set a target for them, the technical department and players feel reaching the final should be their main aim.

“Preparations have gone well for us so far. We had some minor injuries and knocks on players but everyone is back at training and hope we all head into the games without any injuries. We set ourselves a target of reaching the finals.  We have been focusing on that and in camp we feel that is an achievable objective,” she said.

Sibanda said they have to guard against complacency.

She said despite having played at the highest stage last year, the Olympics, it would be folly for her side to underrate any of the competitors.

“Some would view our achievement of making it to the Olympics to mean we are better and when they face us they raise their game which means that we’ve to guard against complacency and fight. We don’t want to be our downfall,” said Sibanda.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Sibanda assisted ex-Mighty Warriors coach Shadreck Mlauzi.

After Madagascar, the Mighty Warriors will face rivals, Zambia on Friday at Barbourfields in what is expected to be a highly contested affair.  They then take on Malawi in the last group stage on Sunday at Luveve Stadium.

Mighty Warriors’ final squad

Goalkeepers: Chido Dzingirai (Correctional Queens), Manyara Mandara (Mwenezana), Precious Mudyiwa (COSA)

Defenders: Nobuhle Majika (Inline), Sheila Makoto (Blue Swallows), Nobukhosi Ncube (New Orleans), Lynett Mutokuto (Black Rhinos), Danai Bhobho (Harare City), Rufaro Machingura (Black Rhinos)

Midfielders: Marjory Nyaumwe (Correctional Queens), Rejoice Kapvumvuti (Inline), Vimbai Mharadzi (Blue Swallows), Daisy Kaitano (Black Rhinos), Eunice Chibanda (Black Rhinos), Talent Mandaza (Black Rhinos)

Strikers: Rutendo Makore (Black Rhinos), Priviledge Mupeti (MSU), Berita Kabwe (Correctional), Ethel Chinyerere (Blue Swallows), Susan Nyama (Herentals)