MIGHTY WARRIORS skipper Felistus “Figo” Muzongondi feels the nation has let the national women’s soccer team down as a fundraising committee launched in Harare Tuesday morning races against time to raise $300 000 for the team’s participation at the African Women’s Cup of Nations.

The Mighty Warriors are expected to start a belated camp at Zesa Training Centre in Harare on Wednesday, just over two weeks before they depart for the AFWCON finals which will be staged in Cameroon from November 19 to December 3.

With Zifa reeling from endless financial problems, a fundraising committee comprising of notable corporate personalities has been launched to try and source resources for the desperate Mighty Warriors.

“The nation has let the Mighty Warriors down,” the sorrowful Mighty Warriors captain said.

“The fundraising committee is trying its best but we feel the nation left it too late. But we will work with what we have on the ground.

“We will go there to achieve.”

The fundraising committee is headed by Old Mutual Group Marketing Executive Lillian Mubaiwa and will hold a dinner at the Rainbow Towers Wednesday as part of resource mobilization efforts.

“The girls need $300 000 for camping, preparations and participation at the finals. We have such a short time frame but we are not people who fail, if you know what I mean.

“With the support of Zimbabweans and the need to support the girl child we will do it,” said Mubaiwa.

Joel Gombera (CBZ Holdings), Busi Chindove (Zimplats), Pride Khumalo (Rainbow Tourism Group), Francis Chimhanda (Telecel Zimbabwe), Darren Thompson (Open Minds marketing consultants), Beatrice Tonhodzai (Zimpapers Public Relations and Corporate Affairs manager), Tinashe Rwodzi (Pricewaterhouse Coopers) and Daniel Mackenzie (ZBC SFM) make up the fundraising committee.

Renowned auditing company Pricewaterhouse Coopers will manage the funds raised by the committee.

Despite being the most successful national football team in the country, having represented Zimbabwe at the Olympic Games in Brazil last August, the Mighty Warriors there is a feeling the Mighty Warriors have often been neglected when it comes to financial support.