Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THERE was a different feel to women’s football at Gwanzura yesterday. The crowd sensed it the moment the trophy appeared in the hands of models walking it across the pitch, a small touch that signalled how far the Zimbabwe Women Premier Soccer League has come.
For years, the crowning of champions felt like an afterthought. Herentals Queens once had to buy their own trophy and medals just to honour themselves. Yesterday showed how much has changed.
The new ZWPSL executive, led by Chido Chizondo, has pushed the league in a new direction. The staging was crisp. Vagoni Vebasa were dressed for the moment and made the ceremony feel polished in a way the league had not managed for a long time. It was fitting that Herentals Queens, who have endured some of the most forgettable title presentations in recent seasons, became the first to experience this new era.
This latest crown is their fourth in a row. They wrapped it up last week with two games to spare and only needed to avoid defeat against Black Rhinos to finish the campaign without losing to a major side. They managed a 2-2 draw, steady throughout the afternoon. The only blemish on their record remains a boardroom ruling from May after a match against Kwekwe Queens that never kicked off.
Chizondo praised the growing competitiveness in the league.
“I am impressed with the competition existing in this league. It has been all good and I would like to congratulate Herentals Queens for snapping up their fourth title in a row,” she said.
“I am quite optimistic about the future of the league. We will relegate just three clubs after Maningi Queens withdrew midway through the season. Then we will promote four for next season. We just want to professionalise the women’s game.”
Coach Simba Deda could hardly hide his pride after a season that tested his squad in different ways.
“It feels great to win the league for the fourth time running. It wasn’t that easy but we prevailed,” he said.
“I am happy for the girls. At one point we looked dead and buried but then here we are. We were consistent throughout the season. I am absolutely thrilled.”
Herentals Queens walked away champions again, but the bigger story was the shift around them. The presentation, the mood and the ambition behind it marked a turning point for a league finally starting to look like the professional competition it wants to become.
