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SITHETHELELWE SIBANDA

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
SOUTH Africa’s senior women’s football national team arrived in the country yesterday for an international friendly against a largely Under-20 Zimbabwe Mighty Warriors.
The match is set for Rufaro Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

The South Africans, with a delegation of 42, touched down at the Harare International Airport at 11.35AM and their coach Vera Pauw was full of praise for Zifa, telling the association’s official website that she was happy to be in the country.

“We gave Zifa a short notice, but I am glad with their swift preparations. I am grateful to the Zimbabwe Football Association for granting the request to play us. I am glad to be in this beautiful country Zimbabwe and we are looking forward to a good match,” she said.

South Africa will be using the match to prepare for the African Women’s Championship finals to be hosted by Namibia later this year .

The Young Mighty Warriors, coached by the Under-20 coach Langton Giwa, will use the match as part of their early preparations for the African Union Region Five Under-20 Games that will be held in Bulawayo in December this year.

Assisting Giwa is former Mighty Warriors star player and Inline Academy coach Sithethelelo ‘Kwinji 15’ Sibanda. Debra Green is the team manager.

“The squad is made up of the players who will feature for the nation during the bi-annual Games.

“We are aware of the danger that South Africa is going to pose, but we will do our best as we also prepare for the Region Five Games. My team is a blend of junior and senior players but most of them are Under-20s,” he said.