MIGHTY Warriors vice-captain Nobuhle Majika says the team should remain grounded, working hard, as they face difficult opponents at the two major football tournaments they will participate in later this year.
BY HENRY MHARA IN LUSAKA, ZAMBIA
Zimbabwe defeated hosts Zambia 3-2 in the final round second leg match at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka on Sunday for a 4-2 aggregate win to qualify for the Women Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals to be held in Cameroon this November.
They added the Afcon to their schedule, which already contains a trip to Brazil for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Majika, who captained the team in Lusaka while regular skipper Felistas Muzongondi sat on the bench, said the team would work hard to make sure they do not go to these tournaments just to make up numbers, but to compete for honours.
“I can’t express how happy we are as a team to have made it. We have worked hard and deserve this. As one of the team’s leaders, I’m really honoured to have led the team to such great heights and we should be proud of ourselves,” she said.
But amid the qualification euphoria, Majika says real work lies ahead if they are to make a mark both in Rio and Cameroon, where the continental finals will be held.
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“Yes, we are happy that we have qualified, but it would mean nothing if we are going to be humiliated at the Olympics and Afcon. Playing at the Olympics will be tough because we will be up against the world’s best, but we have proved we are one of them by qualifying and we will go there not to make up numbers. As for the Afcon, we are targeting the gold medal or at least a bronze.
The experience we would have gained at the Olympics will come in handy,” she said.
“But we can only achieve this if we continue to work hard. We should not relax thinking that the job is done by just qualifying. I wish we could get into camp as early as possible. I’m urging my fellow players to work even harder, particularly when they go back to their clubs. Even when they are at home, they should train to keep in shape because the time to relax is over,” the defender, who dedicated the victory to her mother who has not been feeling well, said.
Kudakwashe Bhasopo, the scorer of the only goal of the first leg, gave Zimbabwe an early lead, but Zambia levelled matters midway through the first half.
Samkeliso Zulu restored the lead, heading into half-time, but Zambia responded again at the start of the second half with a penalty converted by Misozi Zulu.
It was the Mighty Warriors who had the final say in the match though, when Emmaculate Msipa capped her impressive performance with a well-taken goal in injury time, as Zimbabwe booked their place among the continent’s elite eight.
Women’s Football boss, Elizabeth Langa, who was part of the small group of Zimbabweans cheering the Mighty Warriors at Nkoloma Stadium, said the team deserves to be rewarded for their achievements.
“They continue to do the nation proud and I think it’s time we rewarded them. They have gone through difficult times, but their commitment has never been in doubt and the results are there to prove it. I’m calling on the government, sponsors and well-wishers to assist these girls because we have seen what they are capable of and imagine what they can achieve if they can get enough support,” she said.
The team was expected to fly back into the country yesterday evening with a welcome dinner hosted by Sports minister Makhosini Hlongwane arranged at a local hotel.
The Mighty Warriors have qualified for the Afcon finals three times before, finishing fourth in their maiden appearance at the 2000 finals followed by group stage exits in the 2002 and 2004.
