Mighty Warriors leave for Luanda, Angola for crucial women’s AFCON qualifier

HARARE – The Zimbabwe national women’s team, the Mighty Warriors, on Monday morning left the country for Luanda, Angola for their first leg of the Women’s AFCON qualifier first round encounter scheduled for Estadio Joaquim Dinis on Thursday.

They will play the second leg against Angola five days later in South Africa.

The Mighty Warriors left Harare for Luanda where they will have two days of training before they face off the hosts.

A day before their departure, they received love and support from football stakeholders.

The Minister of Sports Kirsty Coventry accompanied by her deputy Emily Jesaya, acting permanent secretary Eugenia Chidhakwa and acting SRC director Sebastain Garikai visited the team for a send of ceremony held in the afternoon at the ZESA Training Centre in Belvedere.

Later in the evening, the new Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) leadership held a send off dinner for the girls.

Apart from the dinner former Women’s football boss and board member Barbara Chikosi, offered them free hairstyles, manicures and pedicures at her Red Rose Saloon in Harare.

Additionally, ZIFA’s recently elected board member Brighton ‘Panjap’ Ushendibaba is said to have given them US$1,000 to spend on the day.

The new ZIFA executive committee led by president Nqobile Magwizi took turns to attend the Mighty Warriors’ training sessions as a way of motivating them ahead of the crucial encounter.

The new board even pledged to pay the squad training allowances, with ZIFA CEO Yvonne Manwa announcing during their first visit at the training grounds recently.

“I am happy to announce that this board has committed to paying you your training allowances,” said Manwa.

A group of national teams supporters led by Chris Romario Musekiwa also visited the girls at the Prince Edward (PE) School training grounds on Saturday, cheering them during a practise match against PE’s U-15s.

SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS
Vanessa Lunga, Precious Mudyiwa, Lindiwe Magwede.

DEFENDERS
Egness Tumbare, Sheila Antonio,
Purity Mugayi, Nobukhosi Ncube, Alice Moyo, Fortunate Ngocho.

MIDFIELDERS
Daisy Kaitano, Morelife Nyagumbo, Ennetty Chemhere, Natasha Ndowa, Danai Bhobho, Emmaculate Msipa, Mavis Chirandu, Shyline Dambamuromo.

STRIKERS
Christabel Katona, Rutendo Makore, Ethel Chinyerere, Yolanda Kanyai, Ruvimbo Mucherera.