MIGHTY Warriors coach Sithethelelwe Sibanda is bracing for her first assignment as head coach of the senior women's side as Zimbabwe hosts the Cosafa Women’s Championship in September.

The tournament is scheduled for September 13 to 24 in Bulawayo with Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe participating.

Sibanda was appointed coach in June, taking over from Shadreck Mlauzi and will lead the team in their Cosafa campaign which returns after a five-year break.

She was the assistant coach in the previous set-up. 

“Like any other coach you want to do your best. We would really want to give it our best. And I am sure the players that will be there will give it their all.

“We will have a mixture of experienced players and some will be getting their first experience.

“There are some regular players who have had injuries…I prefer really to give them time to recover and probably maybe in the future they will come back,” said Sibanda.

Zimbabwe are hosting the tournament for the third time having hosted in 2002 and 2011 when they won the title at Rufaro.

And that was the last time it was staged due to lack of funds. 

ZIFA communications and competitions manager Xolisani Gwesela said they are making progress in their preparations and Cosafa officials are expected in the country on Wednesday.

“The Cosafa team is coming tomorrow (Wednesday). They are coming to inspect the facilities. Basically they will inspect hotels, training venues and stadiums to be used. And also check on our preparedness. They will be here until the 12th of August.

“The Local Organising Committee was instituted and work is in progress. Our preparations are now at an advanced stage, we are ready to host Cosafa,” said Gwesela.

The team is expected in camp before the end of this month.