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Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
EIGHT days before they plunge into action at the COSAFA Women’s Champions League in Durban, South Africa, Zimbabwe’s women’s football champions Black Rhinos Queens have stepped up their preparations for this event.
The COSAFA Women’s Champions League will take place from August 26 to September 4.
And Zimbabwe’s representatives at the inaugural edition began training on Monday after they were cleared by the Sports Commission to resume training.
The women’s league champions regroup after they last trained in June before football was frozen due to the Covid-19-induced lockdown. The team has limited time and will have to rely more on experienced players who have featured regularly for the senior national team.
The army side is in Group B along with Green Buffaloes of Zambia and TURA Magic of Namibia. With two teams advancing from each group, they stand a better chance in the three-team group.
Yesterday, the team, which has been training at Morris Depot, shifted their base to the National Sports Stadium. Coach Kuda Matuvi has beefed-up his squad by acquiring some veteran players from other clubs on loan.
The team, which lost their skipper Emma Msipa early this year following her move to Spain, has acquired the Mighty Warriors trio of Marjory Nyaumwe, Rudo Neshamba and goalkeeper Cynthia Shonga. Harare City defender Agnes Tumbare has also crossed to Rhinos Queens on a six-month contract.
They have also signed Purity Mugayi and Concilia Madontsa from Faith Drive.
Rhinos Queens have a number of Mighty Warriors seasoned players such as Rutendo Makore, who will have to dig deep on experience and atone for inadequate preparations.
Seven teams are taking part in the zonal tournament, which also serves as the main qualifier to the inaugural TOTAL CAF Women’s Champions League to be held in Egypt later this year.
Group A
Mamelodi Sundowns (SA)
Lesotho Defence Forces (Lesotho)
Manzini Wanders Ladies (Eswatini)
Double Action (Botswana)
Group B
Green Buffaloes (Zambia)
Black Rhinos Queens (Zimbabwe)
TURA Magic (Namibia)
Online Reporter