THE senior men and women national soccer teams will on Sunday give success-starved fans a foretaste of things to come in the post-Cuthbert Dube era when they take on Lesotho and Cameroon at Rufaro and Barbourfields Stadiums respectively.
Exactly a fortnight after his disastrous reign that was primarily characterised by terminal camp boycotts over non-payment of salaries and bonuses, the two national soccer teams’ encounters will be expected to bring relief to a nation that had been literary abused by Dube’s stubborn refusal to vacate.
In Harare at Rufaro Stadium, the Mighty Warriors will seek to book a place at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro by upstaging West African giants Cameroon in the Preliminary Competition African Zone final round second leg match.
The Mighty Warriors are on the brink of making history by qualifying for the prestigious global sports showpiece, but standing between them and a ticket to Brazil is a 2-1 first leg deficit.
No Zimbabwean soccer team has qualified for a major global soccer tournament and the Mighty Warriors are well poised to turn that dream into a reality if their spirited display in the first leg is anything to go by.
In Cameroon, the Mighty Warriors were undeterred by their illustrious opponents by taking the encounter to them.
On Sunday, the ladies have a good chance of dismantling the Cameroonians.
On paper that looks like an insurmountable task given the pedigree of the opponents but there are several factors playing to the Mighty Warriors’ advantage.
Apart from enjoying home advantage, a Rudo Neshamba strike in the first leg of the crucial tie in Yaoundé leaves the Might Warriors needing a solitary goal to book a place at the Rio showcase.
With the Dube-madness laden era having been successfully shuffled into the dustbins, support for the girl child should not be a problem and it will provide a well-timed morale booster for the girls.
Confidence is high in the camp and Coach Shadreck Mlauzi has been rallying his troops to come to the party on Sunday.
But the Mighty Warriors’ opponents must never be taken for granted given their recent exploits.
It has been a resoundingly successful year for Cameroon.
They are the 2015 World Cup finalists and the 2015 African Games silver medalists.
And they are not taking any chances and arrived in Zambia a week ago for acclimatisation.
In Zambia they played a friendly match against Green Buffalo Women’s Football Club on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in Bulawayo, the Warriors take on the Crocodiles of Lesotho in the decisive African Nations Championships (CHAN) final qualifier scheduled for Rwanda next year.
The Warriors are bidding for a fourth straight CHAN final appearance and Coach Kalisto Pasuwa has been in a no nonsense mood ahead of the crucial tie.
On Wednesday, he kicked out the trio of midfielder Ronald Chitiyo and defenders Hardlife Zvirekwi and Justice Jangano for indiscipline.
Prior to the Wednesday debacle, the Warriors camp had been rocked by injuries, but as of yesterday, progress has been made on injured players like Roderick Mutuma, Blessing Moyo and captain Danny Phiri
Harare City star midfielder Talent Chawapiwa has been ruled out together with his teammate Arnold Chivheya.
The Warrior are seeking to go into the second leg scheduled for Maseru next week with a comfortable lead.
Meanwhile, Lesotho go into the encounter smarting from their embarrassing ouster in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers by minnows Comoros Islands.
They will be seeking to avoid another disappointment by making life difficult for the Warriors, but in Pasuwa we have a gaffer who can stand up to any task.
The odds are high that he will deliver as he always does.

Warriors in camp:
Takabva Mawaya, Donovan Bernard, Elvis Chipezeze, Blessing Moyo, Lawrence Mhlanga, Stephen Makatuka, Ocean Mushure, Raphael Kutinyu, Nqobizitha Masuku, Marshal Mudehwe, Roderick Mutuma, Malvin Gaki, Tichaona Chipunza, Pritchard Mpelele, Knox Mutizwa, Brian Muzondiwa, Edmore Chirambadare, Raphael Manuvire, Danny Phiri, Teenage Hadebe and Bruce Kangwa.
Mighty Warriors in camp:
Chido Dzingirai, Lindiwe Magwende, Vanessa Lunga, Nobuhle Majika, Lynette Mutokuto, Sheila Makoto, Eunice Chibanda, Faith Chasi, Chido Muhara, Prisca Khumalo, Emmaculate Msipa, Rejoice Kapfumvuti, Felistas Muzongondi, Viola Ndlovu, Aldigrade Bhamu, Daisy Kaitano, Mavis Chirandu, Rufaro Machingura, Talenta Mandaza, Rudo Neshamba, Kudakwashe Bhasopo, Erina Jeke, Rutendo Makore, Sibongikosi Nleya, Marjory Nyaumwe.