The Mighty Warriors have expressed heartfelt gratitude to Deputy Minister of Sport, Emily Jesaya following their remarkable performance in the COSAFA Cup group stages.
After securing a 2-0 victory against Eswatini, Jesaya surprised each player with a generous $2,700 USD a gesture that the team described as unprecedented.
Speaking after their narrow 1-0 win against Botswana , captain Nobukhosi Ncube conveyed the team’s appreciation for the Minister’s unwavering support.
"I don’t know where to start, only God knows. It is our first time to be given a warm shoulder to cry on as players, and we really appreciate what Minister has done for us," Ncube said.
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Jesaya’s support has been consistent throughout the tournament, from the Mighty Warriors’ opening match to securing their spot in the COSAFA semi-finals.
Demonstrating the team’s playful sense of gratitude, Ncube continued,"Once I get home, I will ask my mom whether a roadrunner or a goat to give to the Minister as a way of appreciation." She said
The Mighty Warriors clinched their place in the semi-finals as the best second-placed team in Group C, a result that stands regardless of outcomes in other groups. Under COSAFA regulations, when determining the best runner-up, results against the bottom-placed teams in Groups A and B are disregarded.
Reflecting on their performances, coach Kwinji acknowledged the challenges the team faced with conditioning.
"We are not really at our best in terms of our conditioning, but I think we tried to manage the games. Especially in these matches, we tried to protect the team and bring in energy. If we had stuck with the same lineup, it would have been difficult to manage, as the intensity of the matches would have taken its toll," Kwinji explained.
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