malvernmugadzikwa
Tadious Manyepo
HERENTALS QUEENS’ status will never be the same again.
When they recently arrived at the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers in Blantyre, Malawi, some believed they were there to make the numbers.
Formed a little over half-a-dozen years ago, “Vagoni Vebasa” were playing at this level for the first time after having participated in the Zimbabwe women’s elite league for only three seasons.
But they were stinging in the tournament, even beating former champions Green Buffaloes of Zambia, before their journey was ended at the semi-final hurdle by Gaborone United via a 1-0 defeat on Thursday.
But their overall showing captured the imagination of many.
So, it should not come as too much of a surprise that this outfit is made up of fighters, both in life and on the football pitch.
It is a unique group, whose individual players have navigated vexing and thorny conditions to be where they are today.
For example, Shyline Dambamuromo, one of the standout players, both at Herentals Queens and in the Mighty Warriors team, survived on selling bananas at Mbare Musika.
It is a hustle that also took care of her school fees. She had to escape from her home in Honde Valley in the dead of the night so that she could chase her football dream.
Down in the picturesque Manicaland district, Dambamuromo’s biggest achievement was supposed to be getting married.
However, Dambamuromo, who had been offered a football scholarship at Nyamauru High School in Mutare, courtesy of Faithdrive Academy, wanted more.
And her heart was set on football.
But there was a problem — her father Joseph was not buying into that.
Luckily, her mother Juliet (nee Mujana), was supportive.
“My mother arranged with some kombi crew to pick me up in the night, when my father would have gone to sleep,” she recalls.
“It was a difficult scheme to execute but we had to risk it as I really wanted to become a footballer.”
Her mother still remembers how she was hounded for letting her escape.
But the midfielder put in the work and eventually made it.
She is now a role model in Honde Valley and helps out young girls with their education and football.
“Basically, that’s where I derive my fighting spirit from,” she added.
“I know where I came from and want to now make a difference for others. The perception in our area on girls playing football has since changed.”
Dambamuromo is not alone.
Her long-time friend Alice Moyo is currently being wooed by several teams in South Africa and Botswana.
And she has a unique story of her own, as she grew up in a children’s home.
“I grew up having to fight for everything.
“Once I started playing football, I knew I had to stand firm for I had no one to hold my hand,” said Moyo.
“Luckily, I was then recruited by Faithdrive Academy, after which I moved to Herentals Queens.
“My upbringing instilled the indomitable spirit I display in the field, and I am happy with what I have managed to achieve in football, both at national team and club levels.”
Herentals goalkeeper Lindiwe Magwede is another exciting player with an interesting story to tell.
“I grew up playing plastic balls with boys in Masvingo and I think that’s how I groomed myself to be who and what I am today,” said Magwede.
“I have just one issue in my life that bothers me: I don’t know where my father is or who he is. It is something that I really think about sometimes but then I get my therapy from playing football.
“I really don’t know what I could have become had I not pursued football.”
For defenders Egness Tumbare and Talent Mukwanda, a difficult upbringing in Epworth shaped them to take the hard knocks and limp on.
“Epworth is a hard place for everyone, and good and bad things happen there. The conditions were hard but one needs to adapt,” Tumbare said.
“To run away from vice in Epworth, I decided to join Silver Queens, a local women’s team, together with Mukwanda, who was also running away from the same predicament.
“I am now a correctional officer with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service because of football.
“When I go onto the field of play, I mean business and nothing else.”
Striker and captain Polite Mabika has visible scars on her feet from playing street football with boys.
This was, of course, against her guardians’ wish, having been orphaned when she was only three.
“I grew to understand life, especially at secondary school. It is there that I realised I didn’t have anything that I was good at, so I just decided to pursue football.
“However, my guardians were against the idea,” said Mabika.
“I missed a lot that I could have learnt as a budding footballer because I couldn’t find time to be at the grounds.
“Herentals Queens president Innocent Benza saw me playing without football boots, after which everything changed.
“When I am on the field of play, I know that this (football) is my livelihood, so I give it my all. I can now look after myself and my family through football.”
Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter