Our Mighty Warriors fought hard to the end

EDITOR — Looking at the Mighty Warriors versus Germany match, the match was an outing which exceeded a lot of people’s expectations even though we lost.

Ghana’s walloping a few days back made most people predict a double digit goal margin in the match, with our ladies being the earmarked recipients. I am glad that the girls managed to minimise the damage, 6-1 is not the worst that could have happened on the night.

The girls’ biggest undoing was the way they dealt with aerial balls.

It seemed like they were afraid of intercepting crosses. This is why we were hurt through headed goals including our own goal.

It also has to be taken into account that some of the players in our national setup are not affiliated to any professional club at the moment. To expect them to outclass players who ply their trade in the biggest leagues in the world, was asking too much of them too early. I hope some of them can attract interest from European clubs during the course of the tournament.

The electrified Olympic atmosphere could have gotten to them as well .I am sure even the most confident of athletes develop traces of stage fright when they debut at events of that magnitude, the Mighty Warriors are not different. I expect a better performance in the next match, we might not win but they would have gained familiarity with performing on a global stage. A feat their male counterparts can only dream of.

Wednesday`s result does not matter much to me, but as the girls ran out of the dugout into the pitch, I felt proud to be a Zimbabwean citizen and no footballing victory can offer that sort of fulfilment .I am proud of the girls. Simon Zimunya.