Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo in MAPHISA
MPOSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Herentals Queens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3) 6
HERENTALS Queens chose to be emphatic and thorough with a statement victory that helped them easily retain the Independence Trophy at Maphisa Stadium yesterday.
This was only the second time that the Independence Trophy involving female teams was being staged after its inauguration in Gokwe last year.
The female edition is played on the eve of Independence Day to wrap up the President’s Children Party.
It was “Vagoni Vebasa” who won it last year after beating Black Rhinos 1-0 and yesterday they hardly broke a sweat as they pumped half a dozen goals past MPOSA.
The serial Zimbabwe Women’s Premier Soccer League champions have been the strongest team in the country for more than four years now and they showed their might before an appreciative crowd.
The match was played in a friendly manner with the jovial atmosphere in that mint stadium adding to the celebratory mood.
It was more than just sportsmanship to see MPOSA players grabbing and hugging their opponents as they mounted a quarter-guard to honour them.
It was more than just sportsmanship to see some of the MPOSA players spraying water on some Herentals Queens players as the two parties celebrated in unison and in the true spirit that Zimbabwe’s independence also brought.
The crowd loved and cheered every touch made by either side as the Independence spirit made a clean sweep across the venue of this year’s festivities.
Scottland and Highlanders are expected to replicate the spirit when they face-off in the Independence Cup final of the men’s edition at the same venue this afternoon.
In the field of play, Herentals Queens new signing Lynette Zembe was the star of the show after scoring four goals on her debut with Bethel Kondo and Natasha Benza adding to the tally.
Herentals Queens have been strong over the years and they are looking even stronger this year after freshening up their squad by pruning off six players.
Their newcomers showed the grit and vibe Vagoni Vebasa are known for.
Zimbabwe international Under-15 and Under-17 forward Winnie Mapuwa won her first senior club cap with a solid showing that she capped with a sweet assist for Zembe’s fourth goal.
Herentals Queens got off to a flier as was expected.
Zembe was allowed time to control and literally pass into the net with barely 15 minutes on the clock.
She followed that up with a sublime run and a subsequent strike to double the advantage for Vagoni Vebasa.
Then MPOSA collapsed and catastrophically so.
Herentals Queens took a 3-0 advantage to the break after Kondo rifled home just before the ref’s half-time whistle.
Zembe got another brace in the second half and Benza slotted in.
Herentals Queens were buoyed from the technical bench by club owner Innocent Benza who sat as an assistant to coach Simba Dedza.
Dedza was naturally thrilled with the triumph.
“I am over the moon after this emphatic win. We managed to defend the Independence Trophy and we are happy as a team.
“MPOSA is a good team. They had their moments, but we managed to neutralise them. Kudos to my players.
“But the celebrations of Independence are all that matter. We are happy.”
MPOSA fielded veteran Nobuhle Majika with the former Mighty Warriors star hailing the spirit with which the game was played.
For their efforts, Herentals Queens earned US$20 000, while MPOSA got US$10 000.
Teams:
MPOSA Queens: Last Mlalazi, Melody Mukucha, Vanessa Magodo, Nobuhle Majika, Kimberly Maseko, Rufaro Maphosa, Leona Arimon, Chelsea Mutongi, Nomqhele Donga, Praise Neshiri, Thando Sibanda
Herentals Queens: Lindiwe Magwede, Maudy Mafuruse, Talent Makwanda, Polite Mabika, Alice Moyo, Christabel Zulu, Morelife Nyagumbo, Praynance Zvawanda, Natasha Benza, Bethel Kondo, Lynette Zambe
Peter Tanyanyiwa