Nomsa Moyo rallies Mighty Warriors
FORMER Mighty Warriors captain Nomsa “Boys” Moyo has urged the Mighty Warriors to remain focused as they step up their preparations for the COSAFA Women’s Championship starting next Wednesday in Bulawayo.
The competition returns to the country six years after Zimbabwe last hosted the tournament and will run from September 13 to 24.
Twelve countries will converge in Bulawayo and Zimbabwe are in Group A alongside, Madagascar, Zambia and Malawi.
Zimbabwe will open their account with a clash against Madagascar next Wednesday.
The hosts are the title holders after winning the last edition in 2011.
“My advice to the girls is they are not supposed to put pressure on themselves, they are supposed to focus on what is at stake. “Defending the Cup is okay. ‘’But the moment you start thinking you are supposed to defend the Cup then mistakes creep in. So I will say all the best to the girls, let’s focus and to the nation let’s rally behind our girls,” Moyo said.
Group B will see Mauritius, Mozambique, Kenya and Swaziland battling it out while Group C has three-time champions South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Lesotho.
The top team in each group will advance to the semi-finals as well as the best-place runners-up.
Moyo added that the first game is crucial for the home side and a win will be the best way to kick-start their campaign.
“What I expect from the girls, from the first game, at least, let’s get a win that will shape our future in the COSAFA tournament.
‘’If we win the first game then we will look at the next game to come. If we don’t win the first game already we have pressure.
“And I am saying to the girls let’s go out there, let’s showcase our talent, let’s play football which people enjoy and at the same time knowing what we want to achieve.
‘’Those players, they are talented but they just need to be pushed and to be helped so that they achieve more than what we achieved before,” Moyo said.
The Mighty Warriors will take on SR Villa this afternoon in a friendly tie at ZIFA Village.
Meanwhile, the organisers of the regional tournament have since made a slight change to the fixtures with the final matches in each group now set to be played at the same time.
In the initial fixture, the matches were scheduled for different times on September 17 and 18.
But both the final matches in Group A that will see Zimbabwe taking on Malawi and Zambia facing Madagascar are now pencilled for 2pm at Barbourfields and Luveve stadium respectively on September 17.
Group C matches will kick-off at 4:30pm on the same day with South Africa facing Botswana at Luveve while Namibia and Lesotho meet at Barbourfields.
Group A games will take place on September 18, at 2pm.
Mauritius will take on Mozambique at Luveve while Kenya clash with Swaziland at Barbourfields. 2017 COSAFA Women’s Championship group stage fixtures
September 13 Barbourfields Stadium: Namibia vs Botswana (10h30), Zambia vs Malawi (14h00), Zimbabwe vs Madagascar (16h30) September 14 Luveve Stadium: Mauritius vs Swaziland (10h30), Kenya vs Mozambique (14h00), South Africa vs Lesotho (16h30).
September 15 Barbourfields Stadium: Madagascar vs Malawi (10h30), South Africa vs Namibia (14h00), Zimbabwe vs Zambia (16h30).
September 16 Luveve Stadium: Kenya vs Mauritius (10h30), Lesotho vs Botswana (14h00), Mozambique vs Swaziland (16h30).
September 17 Luveve Stadium: Zimbabwe vs Malawi (14h00) South Africa vs Botswana (16h30).
Barbourfields Stadium : Zambia vs Madagascar (14h00), Namibia vs Lesotho (16h30).
September 18 Luveve Stadium: Mauritius vs Mozambique (14h00)
Barbourfields Stadium: Kenya vs Swaziland (14h00).
Semi-Finals
September 21 (Barbourfields Stadium). Winner Group A vs Winner Group C (13h00).
Winner Group B vs Best runner-up (15h00).
Third-place play-off September 23 (Barbourfields Stadium). Loser semi-final 1 vs Loser semi-final 2 (13h00). Final September 24 (Barbourfields Stadium).
Winner semi-final 1 vs Winner semi-final 2 (15h00).