AN injury-hit Mighty Warriors team left for Botswana yesterday for an African Women Championships (AWC) qualifier this week.
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The Rosemary Mugadza-coached side plays the lady Zebras in the first round first leg tie in Molepolole, 50km out of the capital Gaborone on Thursday afternoon.
The reverse fixture is in Harare in a fortnight with the aggregate winner meeting the winner between Zambia and Tanzania in the second and final round qualifier.
However, the team made the long road trip to Gaborone without key players due to injuries. Regular strikers Rutendo Makore and Erina Jeke have been ruled out of the match and were left behind due to knee and back problems.
Kudakwashe Bhasopo has been recalled to replace Makore while Talent Mbepo has taken up Jeke’s place.
The Cyclone Queens striker will be looking for her first national team cap.
There are also injury worries for the influential duo of striker Rudo Neshamba and roving leftback Ruvimbo Mutyavaviri.
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Neshamba is struggling with a recurring groin injury while the ginger haired Mutyavaviri is walking with a distinctive limp due to an ankle problem. Mugadza and her technical team have, however, taken a huge gamble by including the two in the travelling party, hoping that they would recover in time for the match.
Besides the two changes, Mugadza who has made it clear that she will be looking to get away goals, have maintained the players that has been doing business for the Mighty Warriors in recent times.
The AWC finals, which also serve as a qualification tournament for the 2015 Canada Women’s World Cup, will be held in Namibia this October with the top three teams going through.
