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Tadious Manyepo, Sports Reporter
HERENTALS QUEENS have to quickly reconfigure to local league settings after arriving from a phenomenal tour of duty in Malawi yesterday.
Vagoni Vebasa made their bow at the nine-day CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifier which ended at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre on Saturday.
They gave a good fight at the meet only crashing out at the semi-final hump where they lost 1-0 to Botswana giants Gaborone United.
Despite missing out on clinching the available sole ticket to the CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament in October which was grabbed by South Africa’s University of Western Cape, Herentals Queens won so many hearts with their flair and industry.
The Student Queens left Blantyre on Saturday and put up in Lilongwe before connecting home yesterday afternoon.
They were greeted with cheers of appreciation from the public who were charmed by how they shone on the international stage in Malawi.
Scores of football supporters from different teams were at hand to welcome the Student Queens.
“We would like to salute Herentals Queens for hoisting high the country’s flag,” said CAPS United cheerleader Francis Kawowa.
“As football fans, we are very proud of what the girls did in Malawi.
“The performance was reflective of our undying spirit in the game of football. We are really happy with their performance.
“The way Herentals Queens carried themselves in the tournament proved that as a country, we can be at par with anyone with the right spirit.”
Yadah Stars fan Kudzai Ngwenya congratulated the girls.
“As women in football, we would like to congratulate Herentals Queens for achieving a top-four finish at the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifier in Malawi,” said Ngwenya.
“The performance was reflective of the competitiveness of our local league.
“In a way, the girls put our country’s women’s football league on the map.
“We would like to salute them for giving it their all.” Herentals Queens have little time to freshen up though with a short cross-town trip to log leaders Chapungu Queens awaiting them on Wednesday.
The Lazarus Magaya outfit are chasing a third consecutive title this year.
But they have to be highly attentive with Chapungu and Black Rhinos Queens not in the mood to let them run a one-horse race.
“I would like to believe that the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifier tournament exposed us to a whole new level of competition,” said Magaya.
“We have picked some crucial lessons which we can build from.
“As we recalibrate to the local league, we are aware that it won’t be an easy task for us to defend the title.
“There is pressure and every team will try to get a chance to play in the regional eliminator as we have done this year.
“We know how it is playing at that level and there will also be pressure on our side as we want to experience that again.
“So we will talk to the girls about the need to stay focused and keep it cool for us to win the league again this season.
“We have an immediate task against Chapungu Queens on Wednesday and I think another game again at the weekend.
“But we have to take it game by game. Chapungu have been playing well this season and they are still to be defeated at their Manyame Air Base home.
“We have to focus and connect our faculties to be able to outdo them.”
Herentals Queens have become a force in the domestic league having pushed aside Black Rhinos Queens’ monopoly of the championship for the past two seasons.
Online Reporter