BENZA HAILS PROPHET MAGAYA

Tadious Manyepo in BLANTYRE, Malawi

HERENTALS president and striker Innocent Benza says football needs more people like the new Zimbabwe Women’s Soccer League proprietor Walter Magaya to progress.

Magaya, through his Heart Group of Companies, has given the female competition a fresh lease of life after pouring in excess of US$320 000 into the league.

Herentals Queens have been champions in this league for the past two seasons and got absolutely nothing for their efforts.

And Benza, a parliamentary and professor who watched his Vagoni Vebasa in the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers semi-final defeat at Mpira Stadium here on Thursday said Magaya has come at the appropriate time to serve the game.

Himself a saint in the game where he funds six professional teams including a Second Division team based in rural Rusape, Benza has hailed Magaya’s move to cater for the women’s game.

“Let me take this opportunity to say Prophet Magaya has done well in coming up with the initiative to sponsor the women’s game. There is so much potential in female football in Zimbabwe and we need more people like him (Magaya) to step up and served the game,” said Hon Benza.

“Look at how Herentals Queens have performed in this competition. It was only their first time but they managed to make a huge mark.

“That shows you that the game has got huge potential if we do the right things.

“So I would like to applaud Prophet Magaya for his efforts in funding the women’s game.”

And Magaya himself has also hailed Herentals Queens, who he said should walk with their tails up after their remarkable run in the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers whose final will be played at Mpira Stadium this afternoon.

Vagoni Vebasa gave it a huge fight before they exited the contest in the semi-finals losing 1-0 to Botswana side Gaborone United on Thursday.

It was their first time playing at this stage, having missed out in last year’s edition as the country was under FIFA suspension after they had also won the league championship in 2022.

While the Student Queens were left dejected with some reduced to tears following their last four defeat, Prophet Magaya said the learners should not drop their heads.

“Herentals Queens represented the country well. I think everyone should be very proud because they really captured our imagination and gave us hope,” said Magaya.

“As a team only making their debut in this tournament, they were obviously expected to struggle. But some of us, who watch this team in the local league, knew they would be able to withstand the pressure.

“Their progress up to the semi-finals was never by coincidence.

“They were very methodical in terms of how they played in all their games.

“They made us proud, thanks to Professor Benza’s efforts and obviously they should be proud of themselves too. The competition was very tough and seeing your kith and kin doing wonders in that pressure cooker is what makes it a great achievement for them and the country.”