HARARE - Zimbabwe women soccer team captain Nomsa Boyz Moyo is confident of finishing off the Zambians in the preliminary round, second leg of the All-Africa Games qualifiers in Lusaka, today. (Pictured: Mighty Warriors players during a traini
The Mighty Warriors left for Zambia on Thursday beaming with confidence after winning the first leg 1-0 at Rufaro stadium, a fortnight ago. We have prepared ourselves for this match and we are ready for them, Moyo told The Zimbabwean on Sunday, last week.
My hope is that we get an early goal and know that we are half-way to closing that chapter. The victory here was good for us because we know half the job is done and we are left with finishing what we started, she said. The continental showdown is set for Maputo, Mozambique in September. The qualifiers are the Mighty Warriors first competitive encounter after disappearing into oblivion two years ago with their last real test being the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games qualifying rounds.
The Zimbabwe womens team went through a comprehensive training programme that included playing several friendly matches as well as a two-weeks training camp planned for Germany next July. But they have since received a cruel welcome on the international scene from South Africas Banyana Banyana who beat them 7-0 on aggregate in a two-legged friendly match.
However, hope is not fading for the womens side that soccer fans believe has the ability to bring pride to the nation after the failure of the mens team to make a consistent appearance at the African Cup of Nations. Moyo said: Their (Zambia) biggest weakness is that they tend to play as individuals and crowd on one place during play and we are a team that spread our balls wide. They have quite a weak defence that we are hoping to take advantage of.
I know we have been used to better grounds here but whatever pitch we play on we have to make sure we adjust and win that game. It means a lot for us to qualify for the All Africa Games especially after we have been quiet for two years; it will be like a stepping stone for bigger things to come. Before their meeting in Harare two weeks ago, Zambia and Zimbabwe had last met two years ago in the preliminary rounds of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games qualifier with the Mighty Warriors progressing to the first round.
Post published in: Zimbabwe Sports News