THE Zimbabwe national women football team has fired warning shots at hosts South Africa ahead of a friendly showdown between the two Rio Olympic Games-bound sides at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa this afternoon.
BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
While the match affords the two countries an opportunity to fine-tune for the Rio Games, it promises to be an explosive encounter, with the Mighty Warriors looking to claim the bragging rights in the Limpopo derby.
Mighty Warriors coach Shadreck Mlauzi said victory is of utmost importance for his team despite the fact that it’s only a friendly match.
“For coaches, it’s always about winning. These matches are called friendlies only in name, but on the field of play it’s always war and we will be out to beat South Africa in their own backyard. Our core principle is play to win or at least be extremely competitive and this is one game where we are going to do just that,” Mlauzi said before the team departed for South Africa.
He added: “It’s a test for us to see where we are, and also to see who is better of the two African teams going to the Olympics. We are blessed to have a team made up of great characters capable of grinding out results especially under difficult circumstances. We have done extremely well every time we have played outside Zimbabwe, for example in Cameroon, Tanzania and in Zambia as well.”
Mlauzi defied the odds with his gallant side as they booked a historic maiden ticket to the Rio Games last year, at the expense of African giants Cameroon and recently another to the Women Africa Cup of Nations.
However, Banyana are no pushovers. They are among the top teams in Africa and have also proved themselves by qualifying for the global games.
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“South Africa is a very good side. They have improved a lot under Vera Pauw in the last two years and all the more impressive was their performance against Equatorial Guinea in which they won the ticket to Rio,” Mlauzi said.
The Zimbabwe team goes into battle without three players namely goalkeeper Chido Dzingirai, strikers Rudo Neshamba and Erina Jeke who are still recovering from injury.
Mlauzi will be happy to give other players an opportunity to showcase their ability as preparations for Brazil intensify.
Banyana coach Pauw is not underrating the Mighty Warriors
“We are really looking forward to this game, and I think it will be a good one to watch. They will put us under pressure and that’s what we need. They are preparing for the Olympics, so they will be on top of their game,” she said.
With three months to go before the Olympics begin, the Mighty Warriors’ only other confirmed fixture is a warm-up date with New Zealand just before the Games.
