adminAllen Khumalo, Sports Reporter
THREE Hearts of Oak players were left shaken after escaping injury in a car accident at the intersection of JMN Nkomo Street and 3rd Avenue in the city on Tuesday afternoon.
Former Mighty Warriors star Ntombiyelanga Ndlovu, Joana Phiri and Nobukhosi Ndlovu were travelling in a car from the Highlanders’ clubhouse where they were supposed to play a friendly game against Royals that was rained out.
Hearts of Oak coach Evans Netha said the trio’s vehicle was hit on the side they were sitting, but they all escaped unhurt.
“It’s not something very serious, but the girls are just shaken. We are praying that they will be fine before the weekend tournament. As a result of the incident, we cancelled our Wednesday (yesterday) training session and will be holding our last training session tomorrow (today) and hope they’ll join the rest of the team,” said Netha.
The accident comes three days before the LM Auctioneers women’s soccer tournament that will see Botswana sides, Double Action and Township Rollers, Harare-based teams Black Rhinos, Blue Swallows and Flame Lilly, Chipembere from Gweru and the Southern Region League’s Inline Academy and Hearts of Oak battling for the crown.
Hearts of Oak will be out to clinch their first LM Auctioneers title since the competition’s inception in 2010, with the last edition being held in 2012.
“Despite being affected by this incident, we are doing what we can to focus on the tournament. The task has become a little difficult because we now have to deal with the players psychologically to get them focused on the competition,” Netha said.
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