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Rosemary Mugadza

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER Mighty Warriors’ captain and coach Rosemary Mugadza has challenged Zifa to prioritise women’s football ensuring the national women’s team gets adequate preparations for the upcoming Total African Nations Cup qualifiers.

Mugadza said there was also need for the re-establishment of regional women’s football leagues to make it possible for more girls to be involved in regular football activity, as some clubs are not financially sound to take part in the national league.

Speaking during the Thembalethu Foundation tournament at Raylton Recreation Club on Sunday where eight women’s teams took part in the annual tournament, Mugadza said reverting to regional leagues will help improve the standard of play in women’s football and set a good foundation for World Cup qualification.

“At least if we can play on a regional basis, that will improve our play as a nation as you know that early next year we have got African qualifiers for the women and (Zifa) VP (Omega Sibanda) may the girls get into camp as early as possible,” said Mugadza.

The Mighty Warriors were drawn against Namibia in the first round of the 2018 Women’s African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Mighty Warriors begin the campaign with an away trip followed by the return leg between February 26  and 6 March 6, 2018.

A win over the two legs will see the Mighty Warriors clashing with either Tanzania or neighbours Zambia in the second and final round of qualifiers for the final tournament to be held in Ghana.

Both the first and second legs of the second-round matches will be played between April 2 and 10.

Zimbabwe and Zambia have been involved in fiercely contested battles, the latest being a 1-1 stalemate at the Cosafa Women’s Championship held in Bulawayo recently.

The first round of qualifiers consists of 10 matches to be played on a knock-out basis. The 10 winners will be joined by reigning champions Nigeria, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon, who are all exempted from first round action.

Of the 14 teams, seven winners of the second-round stage will join hosts, Ghana, for the finals from November 17 to December 1, 2018.

“We need to qualify for the World Cup since the next Afcon is the qualification for the World Cup. So we need more time with these players and as I have said, if we play on a regional basis, we will see a lot of improvement as teams will fulfil their matches,” said Mugadza.

@skhumoyo2000