Against the odds…..How Kwinji 15 led Mighty Warriors to the COSAFA semis

For the longest time, Mighty Warriors coach Sithethelelwe ‘Kwinji 15’ Sibanda has carried the weight of expectations on her shoulders.

When results did not go Mighty Warriors’ way, fingers were pointed. Criticism came quickly.

Social media was loud. Questions were asked about tactics, selections, and leadership.

But what many people often overlook are the circumstances behind those results.

Take last year, for example. Mighty Warriors had only two tournaments. Two. For a national team trying to rebuild and compete against nations with structured leagues, consistent camps, and proper funding, that is hardly enough game time to build rhythm and cohesion. Preparation matters. Resources matter. Exposure matters.

The first tournament was the WAFCON qualifiers, which came just around this time. The team was, however, eliminated in the campaign after losing 2-1 in the first fixture in Angola and losing 5-4 on penalties in the reverse fixture held in Pretoria, South Africa. The next tournament came just as the year ended. The Three Nations Cup was in Malawi, where they secured a silver medal.

Off the field, challenges such as delayed allowances and inadequate kit supplies and poor camping conditions have also tested the commitment and morale of players and technical staff alike.

Yet under those conditions, Sibanda kept going. She worked with what she had: limited camps, limited resources, and limited competitive matches.

Currently, the domestic women’s league has been in the off-season since November. The team only went into camp on February 1 and began their campaign on February 19. That left barely three weeks to prepare. Sibanda had to maximise every session.

“I am very impressed with the record we have set for ourselves; it may not be as outstanding, but coming from off-season to stage such competition against teams that are way past mid-season is magnificent,” she said during a post match interview soon after their match against Botswana.

And the numbers speak clearly.

Zimbabwe opened their COSAFA campaign with a 2–0 win over Eswatini, drew 0–0 with Zambia, and secured a 1–0 victory over Botswana to book a place in the semi-finals.

That is three matches, two wins, one draw, zero defeats, and zero goals conceded.

Three clean sheets. Defensive discipline. Tactical organisation. Mental focus.

Now, as the team marches into the semi-finals unbeaten and without conceding a single goal, the narrative must change. This is not luck. This is structure.

The last time the Mighty Warriors reached the semi-finals was in 2023, when they were eliminated by Zambia.

Coach Sibanda might not have been perfect; no coach is. But she has delivered under pressure, under scrutiny, and under conditions far from ideal.

As the Mighty Warriors rise, we must also rise to applaud her.

Give credit where it’s due.

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