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Harare Bureau
THE Mighty Warriors failed to go into camp for the second time when Zifa again shifted it to an unknown date.

The history-making girls were supposed to go into camp in Bulawayo on Sunday, but it failed to take off and now Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze is reassuring them that their camp will begin “anytime this week”.

Mashingaidze said the girls would now camp at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) to prepare for the Olympic Games in August. They were initially set to camp on January 12 at Elangeni Training Centre in Bulawayo, but Zifa pulled the plug at the 11th hour much to the annoyance of the technical department that wanted them in camp in December last year.

Mashingaidze sought to justify the delay by saying they wanted it to be up to standard.

“We’re trying to sort out a standard camp for the girls and make sure that they are well catered for. Our plan is to develop the team beyond the Olympics to make them reputable like the Falcons of Nigeria and other teams in the world,” said Mashingaidze.

The Mighty Warriors’ friendly match against neighbouring South Africa’s Banyana Banyana that was set for tomorrow has also been moved to next month in Harare.

“The South Africans have asked the date to be moved to next month as their team was on a break and this will also allow us to prepare for the match well,” Mashingaidze said.

He said the friendly would be over two legs, with the second leg being played in Johannesburg at a later date.

The Mighty Warriors made history by becoming the first local football side to qualify for the Olympics. They will play against Tanzania in an African Women Cup of Nations qualifier in March and the winner of this game will face either Namibia or Zambia in the next round of qualifiers.