The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Under-17 women’s football team coach, Garthly Chipuka is keeping his fingers crossed that some key members of his squad secure passports to travel to Botswana for a Fifa Under-17 World Cup qualifier preliminary round, first leg fixture on Saturday.
The girls have been in camp at Eveline High School with a squad of 30 players and leave for Botswana on Tuesday.
Chipuka is taking his time in coming up with a final squad of 18 for the trip to Botswana since some of the players he wants to select do not have passports. Efforts are being made to secure travelling documents for those without them.
Some of the key players Chipuka is keen to take to Botswana are the Mpopoma High School trio of Lorraine Mpasi, Elice Moyo and Nozipho Khumalo who all do not have passports.
“We have got critical players, as you are training you can see that this one is way talented than the rest and unfortunately, she doesn’t have a passport, I’ve got Lolo (Lorraine Mpasi), Lele (Elice Moyo) and Cimbi (Nozipho Khumalo), those are critical players whereby you would want to have them but because they do not have passports you need to train with them on the periphery,’’ Chipuka said.
Mpopoma High School sports director and football coach James Rugwevera with some of the players from his school who are part of the Zimbabwe Under-17 team that is preparing for a Fifa Under-17 World Cup preliminary round, first leg against Botswana on Saturday
In the event that the girls do not obtain the passports, Chipuka would be forced to select those with the travel documents but are not as good as those without.
“If passports are to come out, it’s a go for us, if they do not come out then we are in a bit of tricky situation. Do we have equally good replacements? I would be lying if we say we have good replacements, we have replacements nevertheless,’’ he said.
The girls have been having their training sessions at Milton High School but have not been successful when it comes to playing practice matches.
A fixture against a Makokoba Under-15 boys’ team did not materialise due to transport challenges. Chipuka is concerned since he would have loved to see how his players respond to match conditions.
“We tried to play some Under-15 boys but apparently because of issues to do with transport, they failed to come to where we are. The worry is there because you get a situation whereby you are not really sure as to how these girls would react in certain situations that might arise,’’ he said.
Chipuka is hoping that they get to play on an artificial turf because he does not think his players are fit enough to last a full match on natural grass.
“We cannot measure where they are in terms of fitness because we do not know what surface we are using in Botswana. If we are lucky and we play on artificial grass, it would be good for us but if we play on natural grass we are in a tight spot because I don’t think our fitness levels can surpass even 40 minutes on natural grass,’’ Chipuka said.
Seeing that he does not know much about Botswana, Chipuka said their strategy would be to minimise damage and restrict their opponents.
Goalkeeper Tariro Chirume, a player with experience having turned out for the Zimbabwe Under-20 at last year’s Cosafa tournament will captain the Under-17 against Botswana.
Zimbabwe Under-17 women team: Plaxedes Mutanda, Martia Nyanhete, Mavis Vhera, Lorraine Mpasi, Margret Kanjekete, Nosipho Dube, Praynence Zvawanda, Thando Sibanda, Natalie Mbavha, Ntandoyenkosi Moyo, Melody Chikore, Aliyah Utumbe, Deon Gonya, Tadiwanashe Taderera, Pamela Nkomo, Patience Nkomo, Lebhukani Dongo, Sancia Zvikomborero, Tariro Chirume, Thandiwe Msipa, Sisa Ndebele, Nozipho Khumalo, Nokukhanya Ndlovu, Tinotenda Dhaurai, Priscilla Marikosi, Catherine Gwangware, Morelife Nyagumpo, Alice Moyo.
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