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Chingawo confirms retirement

Sport
NATIONAL senior women football team captain Onai Chingawo has confirmed her retirement from international football, to concentrate on her marriage.

NATIONAL senior women football team captain Onai Chingawo has confirmed her retirement from international football, to concentrate on her marriage.

Report by Henry Mhara

She follows in the footsteps of former Mighty Warriors star Ruth Banda who quit the game after her marriage to Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Esrom Nyandoro more than a decade ago.

Chingawo is married to Dynamos midfielder Russel Madamombe and will not be part of the Mighty Warriors team to play South Africa in a friendly match on Saturday.

The two teams are preparing for the Cosafa Women Championships in October and the African Women Championships and Olympic qualifiers later this year.

“It is a difficult decision to quit the game that has given me so much, but I think this is the right time,” Chingawo said yesterday.

“I have been thinking about it since I got married early this year and I have finally made up my mind. This is the time for the other players to take over. I would like to thank my fellow teammates, the coaches and women football boss Mavis Gumbo for supporting me when I was the team’s captain. My wish is to see women football continue to grow in this country,” said the 28-year old.

“I’m yet to formally announce my retirement to my coaches and Mrs Gumbo. I will do that next week,” said Chingawo who has set her wedding date for December.

Chingawo broke into the national team in 2001 during the Cosafa Women Championships, a Mighty Warriors team that had current coach Rosemary Mugadza.

She was part of the team that played in the African Women Championships in Nigeria and South Africa, the only time the Mighty Warriors participated in that grand stage.

However, her moment of triumph came in 2011 when she led the Mighty Warriors to Cosafa Women Championship glory after Zimbabwe beat South Africa in the finals at Rufaro Stadium.

Also in her medal cabinet is the Arab Cup gold medal, the South American gold medal and numerous Cosafa silver medals at junior and senior level. The team is expected to leave for Pretoria today.

Travelling squad: Goalkeepers: C Dzingirai, P Mukutya Defenders: D Bhobho, R Mutyavaviri, N Majika, M Musasa, Eunice Chibanda, R Jongoti Midfielders: F Muzongondi, E Msipa, T Mandaza, N Ndlovu, M Chirandu, M Nyaumwe Strikers: R Neshamba, R Makore, E Jeke, V Bepete