• ZAMBIA’S Noria Sosala (left) and Alice of Kalimba of Rwanda in a tussle for the ball during an international friendly played at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka. The match was used as part of preparations for tomorrow’s first leg qualifier against Zimbabwe for a place at the Namibia 2014 Africa Women Championship (AWC). Zambia beat Rwanda 3-0. Picture by JEAN MANDELA

By GRACE CHAILE –

ZAMBIA Women soccer team coach, Charles Bwale says his players are ready for tomorrow’s final round, first leg qualifier against Zimbabwe for a place at the Namibia 2014 Africa Women Championship (AWC).

The 18-member team arrived in Harare in full spirits and were yesterday scheduled to have a training session at the Rufaro Stadium, venue for tomorrow’s match.

Bwale said the players were in good shape and focused on winning the Sunday’s ‘Battle of the Zambezi’ whose winner over the two-legged fixtures qualifies for the AWC to be held in October.

“We are here to get a positive result that should put us in a good position going into the return leg. Our aim remains the same which is to qualify for the championship,” he said.

Meanwhile, The Herald newspaper reports that Mighty Warriors coach Rosemary Mugadza believes her team have the arsenal to fight for a win against Zambia on Sunday.
Mugadza said she wasn’t under-rating the Zambians because women’s football in all the countries was improving.

“We have a team of good players and we do not bank on individual players, starting from the goalkeeper to the substitutes everyone is equally good to come in and perform.

“I do not think it will be a big challenge playing She-polopolo but we know that they have improved as a nation considering that their Under-17 qualified for the World Cup in Costa Rica and they are coming here to try and qualify,” said Mugadza.

Mugadza said their mission was to qualify for the Nations Cup finals in Namibia.

“I just hope the girls will take the morale into Sunday’s game so that we qualify for Namibia,” said Mugadza.