Game-On Reporter
Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) Vice President Loveness Mukura has announced a major shift in the national team’s operational strategy, promising a resource-heavy approach to ensure the Mighty Warriors qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Speaking on the association’s roadmap to the global showpiece, Mukura emphasized that the days of “business as usual” are over.
The new strategy, set to take effect this June, centers on high-performance preparation and the integration of international talent to bolster the squad’s competitiveness.
“We will do things differently going forward; we have to have a strong team for the LA Games qualification.
“Starting in June, you will see some differences in the way we operate,” stated Mukura.
Mukura revealed that ZIFA is casting a wider net to ensure the best available Zimbabwean talent is wearing the national colors.
“What is important to note is that we will invest a lot of resources in the team and you will see a number of foreign-based players coming in to compete for places in the team,” she added.
The Vice President, a former player herself, noted that past failures often stemmed from inadequate preparation.
To rectify this, ZIFA plans to facilitate extended training camps to build chemistry between the local core and the incoming foreign-based stars.
“For us to have a strong team, we have to make sure that the players are given ample time training together,” she said.
The Mighty Warriors, who famously represented Africa at the Rio 2016 Olympics, are looking to return to the world stage after missing out on subsequent editions.
They will discover their path to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games on Wednesday, April 29, when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducts the official qualification draw in Cairo.
Zimbabwe is among 35 African nations vying for just two coveted slots allocated to the continent for the 16-team global showpiece.
