The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Sports Reporter —
NYAMAURU High School’s Maud Mafufuruse – niece to national team captain Willard Katsande – will be part of the Mighty Warriors’ squad that will be on a tour of duty in Cameroon during the 2016 edition of the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations tournament.
Mafuruse, who earned her first cap during a friendly match against Egypt and capped it with a goal, was part of the 21 member squad announced by coach Shadreck Mlauzi on Monday.
The Africa Women Cup of Nations finals will be held in Cameroon from November 19 to December 3.
The Zimbabwe national women’s soccer team is expected to leave on Thursday (yesterday) for Yaounde where they will based for their Group A matches.
Talented Mafuruse led the Nyamauru High team in the previous two editions of the prestigious Copa Coca Cola competition.
The school, Nyamauru High, which is nestled in the sprawling suburb of Dangamvura, has consecutively represented Manicaland in the girls’ category at the national finals.
The star-studded outfit, whose training sessions in the dusty Nyamauru High soccer pitch provides equal entertainment value to that of their male counterparts, bowed out at the first hurdle in the group stages of the national finals in 2014.
In 2015, Nyamauru exuded stiffer character when they succumbed in the quarter-finals, let alone after a penalty shootout lottery.
This year, they bowed out in the group stages of competition after diabolical match officiating saw them losing to eventual winners Chidyamakono.
Meanwhile, the Mighty Warriors coach retained the bulk of the players who featured at the Olympic Games in Brazil.
Mlauzi, who has been working with 25 players for the past week at training, has dropped five rookie players. Mwenezana goalkeeper Lisa Mpofu, defenders Sarudzai Chikowore and Biola Mpofu, midfielder Happiness Gumbo and Weerams forward Sibonginkosi Nleya will not be in Cameroon.
Having already dropped chief striker Rudo Neshamba because of injury and three other players who were at the Olympics — Daisy Kaitano, Erina Jeke and Samkelisiwe Zulu — there wasn’t another major shake-up in the squad.
Black Rhinos and veteran midfielder Aldigrade Bhamu has been finally rewarded for her hard work. She makes a great comeback for a bigger tournament after missing out on the Summer Games.
Squad
Chido Precious Dzingirai, Manyara Memory Mandara, Lindiwe Magwede, Talent Itai Mandaza, Emmaculate Msipa, Nobuhle Miriam Majika, Ruvimbo Brenda Mutyavaviri, Rutendo Makore, Marjoury Nyaumwe, Sheila Makoto, Eunice Chibanda, Danai Bhobho, Felistas Muzongondi, Kudakwashe Basopo, Nobukhosi Ncube, Aldigrade Bhamu, Patience Mujuru, Barita Kabwe, Maud Mafuruse, Sifulindile Moyo, Mavis Chirandu.
