Many will not have foreseen Zimbabwe getting to their first Women's Soccer tournament at the Olympic Games yet here they are. Zimbabwe head to Rio and are hoping to try and give a good account of themselves against their opponents in Group F Australia, Canada and Germany.
The newcomers will open their Olympic journey against European champions Germany, on August 3rd, at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo. Not many expect them to give Germany, or the other teams, any trouble overall.
Qualification comes through an interesting route
Most observes of the women's game in Africa expected the Western African nations such as Nigeria, Cameroon or Ghana to represent the continent at these games as they had previously done so often but instead, it was two nations from southern Africa, Zimbabwe and South Africa, that bucked the trend. In fact, Zimbabwe managed their qualification by beating Cameroon over two legs, and when the Ivory Coast failed to find enough financial support to travel to Harare for one leg of their qualification match, their future result against Cameroon proved pivotal.
Zimbabwe lost the first leg to Cameroon by two goals to one but star striker Rudo Neshamba scored the vital away goal which Zimbabwe took back with them for the second leg. The second leg was a one-nil win for Zimbabwe as Neshamba popped up with the goal again and thus the Mighty Warriors were headed to Rio.
Financial backing is still an issue for Zimbabwe
Many of the local news outlets in Zimbabwe have reported the high levels of corruption and incompetence that still exists in the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA), which not only affects the men's game in the country, but the women's game as well. Zimbabwe failed to travel to their first leg match in the Ivory Coast due to financial constraints but it did not prevent their qualification to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Due to an upcoming vote on December 5th for the ZIFA board, the women's game in Zimbabwe could see better infrastructure come into place and potentially a professional league especially now that they have captured national attention by making it to the Olympic Games. As of right now, there is no professional league for these players to participate in on a regular basis and thus, there is nothing substantial for sponsors to latch onto. All of this combined makes financial backing difficult for the national team. Fans of the team will be hoping that their journey in Rio is well-documented enough to encourage sponsors to support the team in the near future.
The team talks about making the Olympic Games for the first time
After their victory over Cameroon, The Chronicle managed to interview a few of the players and coaches post-game. Neshamba highlighted her delight at qualifying and that they "had made the country proud" by taking them "to a place where we never imagined." Neshamba also had high praise for coach Shadreck Mlauzi who is also her coach at Inline Academy. The forward felt that Mlauzi had "brought in many things" that helped the team win the match and make their way to Rio.
Sithethelewe Sibanda, the assistant coach on the team and a former player herself, also stated how "over the moon" she was at the team's performance and that it was a "privilege to represent your country at any level, above all representing it now at the Olympics". Sibanda also felt that playing at the Olympics would "open avenues" for players to be scouted by European clubs and that it would be "foundation for greater careers" for most of the players.
Mlaudzi himself felt that "with the right preparations, the sky's the limit" for his players. He felt that the team could plan for their opponents technically and tactically enough to surprise anyone as they did against Cameroon.
Key tactics for the 'Mighty Warriors'
Zimbabwe does not have any player currently playing as a full-time professional, most players play with amateur clubs, but that has not stopped them from finding a formula that has worked and continues to work for them.
Led by Mlauzi, Zimbabwe, like their neighbors South Africa, could prove to be a good defensive outfit and will have a team organization that could surprise many. That back line is marshaled by veteran goalkeeper Chido Dzingirai (a former striker turned goalkeeper) and she is aided by defender Nobuhle Majika in ensuring that the team remains compact and difficult to breakdown. In midfield, expect the likes of Mavis Chirandu and Daisy Kaitano to prove the catalyst of any offensive forrays by Zimbabwe and up top, captain Felistas Muzongondi leads the line alongside Neshamba who the team will look for to provide the goals in Rio.
Zimbabwe's Olympic roster in full
Goalkeepers: Chido Dzingirai (Flame Lily), Lindiwe Magwede (Cyclone Stars).
Defenders: Eunice Chibanda (Black Rhinos), Nobuhle Majika (Inline Academy), Sheila Makoto (Blue Swallows), Lynett Mutokuto (Black Rhinos).
Midfielders: Mavis Chirandu (Weerams), Emmamulate Msipa (Black Rhinos), Daisy Kaitano (Black Rhinos), Rejoice Kampfumvuti (Inline Academy), Talent Mandaza (Black Rhinos), Marjory Nyaumwe (Flame Lily).
Forwads: Kudakwashe Basopo (Black Rhinos), Erina Jeke (Flame Lily), Rutendo Makore (Blue Swallows), Felistas Muzongondi (Mwenezana), Rudo Neshamba (Weerams), Samkelisiwe Zulu (Flame Lily).
Quotes via The Chronicle Zimbabwe