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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
MIGHTY WARRIORS legend Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda suffered a setback in her first assignment in charge of title hopefuls Chapungu Queens, after suffering defeat to defending champions Herentals Queens, in a Women’s Super League tie at the National Sports Stadium B-Arena on Saturday.
Sibanda, who has previously made waves in the Mighty Warriors dugout, showed some clout when leading FC Platinum Royals to a strong finish last season.
And she is expected to finally end Chapungu Queens’ wait for a maiden title this season.
But she will have to reorganise her charges after they failed to work out a formula to repel champions Herentals Queens, who made history by winning the crown without suffering any defeat last season.
The tie was the pick of the league’s opening weekend and it lived up to its billing, with both teams displaying quality in a match that attracted a lot of spectators.
Herentals Queens, after missing some good chances just like their opponents in the opening phase, came good through the boot of 2022 Soccer Star of the Year Praynance Zvawanda in the second half.
Though Chapungu Queens tried hard to crawl back with the fit-again Ethel Chinyerere rattling the cross-bar, the Simbarashe Dedza side held on to start the defence of their title on a positive note.
Sibanda though noted some good signs from her team which she hopes to build ftom going into match day two of the championship.
“Herentals are a big team and we are fighting to be in the top there. The aspirations have never changed.
“It was a very good game, very physical. I noted a lot of positives from my team,” said Sibanda.
“We need to work on some slight things like concentration especially analysing how we conceded. We were winning the second ball and really played well. We just need to make sure that we play well.
“This is a marathon, there are still a lot of games to play and a lot of things to fix. We have a very strong squad and we are looking forward to doing well.”
Dedza, whose girls will be representing the country in the Women’s CAF Champions League Zonal qualifiers in South Africa in August, said the Students need to maintain the winning spirit.
“Chapungu is a very strong team but my girls showed a lot of character,” Dedza said.
“This is a long marathon and we need to keep on having the right mentality that helps us get the results.”
Elsewhere, Shamaine Kapachi hauled four goals to help FC Platinum Royals dispatch MSU Queens 7-0, while Greater Bhande, Chiedza Paraganda and Kudakwashe Basopo grabbed a hattrick each to help their teams to comfortable wins.
Bhande got three goals in Black Rhinos’ 7-0 win over ZRP Harare, with Paraganda’s triple strikes seeing Conduit sprint over the line against Hope Academy in a 5-0 victory for the Guruve team.
Basopo’s hattrick came in the weekend’ most thrilling game where the former Mighty Warriors star helped Black Mambas Queens to a 4-3 win over Maningi.
Women’s Soccer League Results
Herentals Queens 1-0 Chapungu Queens
Black Mambas 4-3 Maningi
Platinum Royals 7-0 MSU Queens
Highlanders Royals 4-1 Mutare City
Conduit 5-0 Hope Academy
Faithdrive Queens 0-1 Harare City
ZRP Harare 0-7 Black Rhinos
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