We’re Here to Win – Botswana

Grace Chingoma

30 June 2011

Botswana’s women soccer team, which jetted into the country yesterday ahead of the Cosafa Women Championships this weekend, are eager to lift the regional tournament.

They want to atone for the disappointment of missing out on a place at the All-Africa Games in Mozambique in September.

The remaining six countries are expected today. And coach Ronaldoh Nkutlwisang quickly declared that they were here for serious business.

“Back home morale is high in the soccer fraternity following the conquests by our men’s team which became the first to book a place at the (2012) African Cup of Nations.

“And we don’t want to be left far behind and we want to win this tournament.

“We have a good side with the majority of our players being Under-20s and we only have four senior players.

“We are grooming and these players have shown a lot of potential.

“We were knocked out in the preliminary round of the All-Africa Games and it was disappointing because we wanted to go to Maputo and winning this tournament will really do for us.

“Our team is going to take each game as it comes and concentrate,” said Nkutlwisang.

Interestingly, Botswana are pooled in Group B with defending champions South Africa who blew their All-Africa Games dreams.

Botswana stunned Banyana Banyana 1-0 in the first leg of the All-Africa Games in Polokwane before the South Africans ran riot in the second leg, thrashing the hosts 4-0 at home.

But the coach believes it will be a different ball game altogether.

“We are going to fight and nothing is obvious. We have a competitive league and everyone is fit. We will give our best against South Africa and the other opponents, ” said Nkutlwisang.

Meanwhile, the Mighty Warriors continued with their preparations at Rufaro and coach Rose Mugadza said her charges were geared for the tournament.

“Everyone is looking forward to the game and our preparations have gone well.

“We don’t have any injury worries except for minor knocks,” said Mugadza. The team has been going through their paces under coaches Mugadza, assistant coach Johane Chikaola and goalkeepers’ coach Nkululeko Dlamini and technical advisor Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe who has been appointed the CAPS United head coach.

The Mighty Warriors’ morale is still high following their qualification for the All-Africa Games. And yesterday captain Nomsa “Boyz” Moyo, who featured for Zimbabwe at the inaugural Cosafa tournament, rallied her troops.

Goalkeeper Onai Chingawo and midfielder Nokuthula Ndlovu were also part of the Class of 2002 but the Aces Youth Academy goalkeeper was still a junior then and was the third choice ‘keeper.

But, this time around, the goalkeeper is expected to play a crucial role in the tournament. Moyo said her team had strength in unity.

“Teamwork will carry the day for us in this tournament and we just need to beat two teams and go to the semi-finals.

“We have played Lesotho, Tanzania and Mozambique before in the qualifiers and we have done well against them but obviously they have improved and we are prepared for our group matches.

“Even if we progress and meet the likes of South Africa, we are prepared for them now because we have been competitive for some time and now believe in ourselves.

“We know we just need maximum concentration for the entire match when playing against South Africa,” said Moyo.

AllAfrica – All the Time