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Sports Reporter
AS the Zimbabwe Women’s Football League goes on a two-week half-season break some clubs have hailed the opening term as very competitive with more showing the hunger for the league title.
There were fixtures scheduled over the weekend and action is now expected to resume on September 2.
Competition has, however, been fierce with any of the five teams in the chasing pack in with a realistic chance of grabbing the championship title.
Champions Herentals Queens have underlined their status as the new dominant force and are leading the pack with 36 points.
Perennial campaigners Harare City, former champions Black Rhinos, Correctional Queens, Chapungu Queens and Platinum Royals are in second to fifth places respectively.
It is on the basis of the stiff competition witnessed in the first half of the programme that Correctional Queens’ secretary-general Arthur Gorejena believes the race could go to the wire.
“This year the league is open. Everyone in the top four has a chance to win the league. There is stiff competition. There is everything to play for,” said Gorejena
Gorejena added that Zimbabwe’s return to international football has heightened interest among teams as they seek to book a place in the CAF Champions League next year.
Herentals missed out on a chance to feature in this year’s Champions League whose regional qualifiers whose third instalment will be staged in Durban, South Africa from August 30- September 8.
The Zimbabwe football Queens were not able to feature in tourney in May as the country was still serving a FIFA suspension from international football.
However, with the lifting of the ban and CAF and FIFA committing to promote women’s football even further, there is renewed interest among the players.
“I believe that the competition has even increased further due to the fact that every team is motivated and wants to play in the Champions League next year.
“Administration is one of the most important pillars of football and there is marked improvement in terms of fixtures management. This season we don’t have a huge backlog in terms of games in hand,” he said.
Debutants Maningi Queens are also happy with how they have settled in the elite league.
“There is stiff competition in the league. The teams play good football and most of them are experienced,” team manager Cassina Mwangara said.
“We are learning and we are also improving with each passing game.
“I believe as newcomers we have started well in the league.
We hope to improve even further in the second half of the season,” she said. Mwangara said their mission is to surviving an early exit from the top-flight league.
“Our target as a club is to finish in the top 10 in our first year. Next year we would want to build from that performance and compete with other teams.
“I believe we have the talent. Junior players who are in Form 2 and Form 3 form the bulk of our players and as a club, they suit the vision of the club which is to empower the girl child through sport.
“Our director Mr Dimbiri (Gladman), the man behind the project has been very supportive and instrumental in securing scholarships for the girls abroad,” said Mwangara.
The league will resume with a potentially exciting clash between Herentals and Platinum Royals in Harare.
Platinum Royals, who are the guidance of former Mighty Warriors coach Sithetheliwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda have so far done well in their debut season.
Herentals, who are still to taste defeat, have become the team to beat but their coach Simbarashe Dedze is unfazed and has made clear their intentions of retaining the championship title.
Online Reporter
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