MGHTY Warriors coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda believes the upcoming Four-Nations Tournament in Zambia will provide a crucial platform for Zimbabwe’s preparations ahead of the Olympic qualifiers against Malawi in October.
Zimbabwe will begin their campaign against Lesotho on June 6, before facing either hosts Zambia or Kenya in the final or third-place playoff, depending on the opening result.
Addressing the media at Prince Edward School in Harare yesterday, Sibanda sees the tournament as much more than results
It offers valuable international exposure for a largely locally-based squad, while also helping the technical team assess players ahead of the decisive Olympic qualifying campaign.
The Mighty Warriors defied odds by qualifying for their maiden 2016 Rio Olympics held in Brazil and have gone on a slump since then.
“Firstly, it’s an opportunity to prepare, which is very important,” Sibanda said.
“Besides playing at club level, the players get international exposure and we are grateful for that.
“It is also a good opportunity for them to showcase themselves.”
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The Mighty Warriors squad features only two foreign-based players, captain Emmaculate Msipa, who plays in Israel, and forward Ruvimbo Mucherera, who is based in Zambia.
Sibanda emphasised that the ultimate target remains October’s Olympic qualifier against Malawi.
“The big goal is the qualifiers. It’s all about preparation at the end of the day.
“Nothing comes if you don’t really prepare.
“These games are going to give us a good picture of who can make it into the squad and who can perform better at that level.”
The coach expects stiff competition from all participating nations.
She said: “It is good that we are meeting strong teams. Zambia are a powerhouse, Kenya are also competitive, and Lesotho have developed a lot.
“We saw during the last Cosafa tournament that they played very well.
“It is going to be good competition and will really test the players.”
Sibanda is encouraged by the team’s readiness compared to their previous international outing.
“At least compared to the last time we played, when some players were in the off-season, now the players have been active and have played competitive matches.”
Msipa, the captain, echoed her coach’s sentiments, describing the tournament as a vital stepping stone towards Olympic qualification.
“We are very happy to participate in this Four-Nations Tournament because we know we have the Olympic qualifier ahead of us in October,” she said.
“The road to the Olympics is not easy and Malawi are a tough side, so these friendly matches are very important for our preparation.”
Msipa, who was part of Zimbabwe’s historic squad that qualified for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, hopes the current generation can emulate that achievement.
“If we qualify, we need more friendly matches and good preparation because we will be playing against some of the biggest teams in the world.
“We want to go there and make the nation proud.”
Mucherera, who is based in Zambia, also highlighted the importance of the tournament as the team seeks to build cohesion ahead of the qualifiers.
“Everyone is motivated,” she said.
“We have players coming from different places and this is an important time for us to come together and prepare for what lies ahead.”
The striker urged supporters to continue backing the team.
“Keep supporting us.
“We see that support and it encourages us.
“We want to give our best and make the nation proud.”
The team leaves the country for Zambia today.
