THERE is a humming sound in the bus as the Mighty Warriors embark on a 1 069km journey from Harare to Gaborone for an African Women Championships (AWC) football qualifier against Botswana.
BY HENRY MHARA SPORTS REPORTER
For Rudo Neshamba, this is a new phenomenon for her.
But the journey had to take place as Zimbabwe are seeking that elusive World Cup place in 2015.
“Often when I hear the engine sound in sync with the girls singing, I imagine myself as a player in the professional league in Europe.
“Football is like the long journey we undertook to Gaborone. We all want to arrive at a certain destination, at a certain time. For me, it is those professional leagues in Europe,” she said philosophically.
These are the stories the players have shared. These are the dreams that bind them to football and the desire to represent the country beyond the confines of what seems to be the only possibilities.
The trip to Gaborone puts things into perspective for her. She appreciates the self-worth that goes with donning the green and yellow Zimbabwe national team jersey
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“Sometimes, you wonder if this is worth it, but we see the respect we get from the police when our bus passes through roadblocks. There is that other person who waves at you and then there is another one smiling at you. It is akin to a soldier who is respected for the selfless service he renders to the country,” she mused.
She looks deep into the emptiness of space and imagines during an interview with NewsDay Sport in Gaborone after the Mighty Warriors had beaten the hosts 1-0.
For the players who have been pampered by flying in international airlines every time they are going out on national duty, a 36-hour trip to Gaborone on a CMED coach should have felt very awkward.
“I went to Norway in 2006 for the YES programme with my club Inline Academy and was back again in Europe in 2011 with the Mighty Warriors for a training camp in Germany,” she says. “The team has also been to Uruguay. These are some of the trips and the moments we will forever cherish in our footballing careers. “But the road trip to Gaborone had its appealing moments. I enjoy being around my teammates. We have different characters in there and that makes the team a whole. There are those who just can’t stop talking. Merjury (Nyaumwe) is always talking. There is also Talent (Mandaza), Majika (Nobuhle), Violet (Bepete), Chido and Kuda (Bhasopo), you cannot keep them quiet.”
Unlike most teams, when they are travelling by bus, the Mighty Warriors do not sing.
“It’s very unusual isn’t it? The good thing is we have people who keep us alive. On the way, Merjury and company kept us awake all the way with their banter.
“Then there is Mavis Chirandu and mother (manager — Charity Munemo), and oh, Gerald (Maguranyanga — physical trainer), those three also qualify to be in that group. I am a quiet person, but Sicelo (Dube), Emma (Msipa) and coach Joha (Yohane Chikaola) beat me hands down. They are too quiet for most players’ comfort. They speak when it’s really necessary.
“The best part of the journey was when the team sang a birthday song for me. It was my birthday by the way. I turned 21. I loved the gesture, it was very nice. Some of my teammates had bottles of dirty water they wanted to pour on me, but mother (Munemo) stopped them. She saved my dreadlocks,” she said flaunting her flowing hair.
Travelling in the Botswana’s main roads has become a nightmare for motorists with police roadblocks everywhere — they have become a hazard on their own. “We didn’t have any problems with the police. Maybe it’s because we were travelling in a government bus. The trip was not as gruelling as people might think. We left Harare at around midday and arrived in Bulawayo in the evening.
“We did not have many stops along the way because we had our packed food in the bus. Sharoo (Sharon Mkumbuzi — team physiotherapist) was our “air hostess,” she smiles.
“The only stops we had was in Kadoma and Gweru.”
The team put off in Bulawayo’s Holiday Inn before engaging on the remaining 626km journey on the following morning.
“The initial plan was to leave Bulawayo after breakfast, but we were delayed a bit because the process of getting a permit for the bus took a bit longer than had been anticipated. We left at around 11am and arrived at the Plumtree border at around midday. All the immigration formalities took about three hours. We had our diner in Francistown that evening.”
The bus arrived at Cresta Motel, situated in the heart of Gaborone just after midnight. All the players looked weary as they dragged their feet into the hotel lounge.
Meanwhile, the team manager and Zifa administrator Theresa Maguraushe was sorting out the staying arrangement for the delegation.
“We were all tired. I could see that Rue (Ruvimbo Mutyavaviri) was walking with distinctive limps. Emma rushed to a couch on the room. She lay there flat. Merjury was quiet.” Neshamba continues: “When you think of it, this trip, unlike many others, was for me a moment of reflection. It could have been my birthday or whatever — I just remembered that I am a footballer, but my limit is yet to be reached.
“I have to keep travelling — physically and emotionally until I play in Europe. Dreams keep us alive.”
