The Mighty Warriors will warm up for their Africa Women Cup of Nations (Awcon) finals with a friendly match against South Africa next week.
BY HENRY MHARA
Zifa communications manager, Xolisani Gwesela confirmed the warm-up match, which Zimbabwe will host at Barbourfields Stadium on Thursday.
Interestingly, the two nations are in the same group at the Awcon finals and will meet each other in their opening Group A match at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on November 19.
Mighty Warriors coach, Shadreck Mlauzi, whose team is yet to start camp just 16 days before the tournament begins, said it was not ideal to play a warm-up match with a team they were going to face at the finals, but, however, accepted the situation.
“We are facing a very difficult situation, as women’s football across the whole continent. Most associations are reluctant to support women football. So it is hard to get friendly matches. For us, we are way behind with our preparations, so we would accept anything at this moment,” he said.
“I don’t think South Africa would have wanted to play us, but I think they are also facing challenges in getting other teams for matches, because most associations just don’t take women’s football seriously. It would be a dress rehearsal for our opening match. We are just hoping it will materialise, because it will give us an idea of what we will be up against in Cameroon.”
Zimbabwe, last month, played a friendly match against Egypt, another team in Group A, and won 2-1. Hosts Cameroon complete the list of teams in Group A.
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Mighty Warriors’ preparations for the finals have been far from ideal, if not chaotic.
The squad is yet to begin camp, as Zifa continue to turn a blind eye to the team and indications yesterday suggested they might group today after the intervention of a Mighty Warriors fundraising committee, initiated by Sports and Recreation minister Makhosini Hlongwane.
The committee, led by Old Mutual marketing executive, Lillian Mbayiwa, was expected to host a fundraising dinner yesterday to try and mobilise resources for the team.
They have set themselves a target of raising $300 000 towards the team’s preps, airfares to Cameroon and player allowances.
Another initiative by the committee would see them run a nationwide SMS promotion, entitled #GirlPowerZW.
