In-form Hearts of Oak midfielder Happy Gumbo’s exploits have not gone unnoticed as she was called up to the squad that is preparing for the forthcoming Africa Women Cup of Nations which starts in Cameroon late next month.

Gumbo, a former Cowdray Park Queens player, moved to Hearts of Oak this season impressed Mighty Warriors coach Shadreck Mlauzi with her consistence.

“She is inexperienced, yes, and we can’t just say we will throw her into the deep end, but we are going to assess her like every other player called into camp,” said Mlauzi.

The Mighty Warriors gaffer said they will continue scouting for talented players for the squad and warned that no one was guaranteed a seat on the plane to the finals in Cameroon.
 
“Having gone to Brazil for the Olympics will not be a barometer on who is going and who is not. Football is played in the present, not in the past, and as such we will continue searching for talent, just like Happy, and assess them during camp and impressed, we will definitely take them along,” said Mlauzi.
 
Zimbabwe are in Group B with neighbours South Africa, Egypt and hosts Cameroon, but concerns have been mounting on the clearly disappointing preparatory path the girls have been subjected to by Zifa.
 
Just like their Olympic misery, the Mighty Warriors are most likely going to the finals without friendly match unless something dramatic happens between now and mid-November.
 
Zifa had courted Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia for possible friendlies, but the three countries haven’t responded to the invitations.