Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
HERENTALS Queens are pulling every stop to perform well in the CAF Women’s Champions League Cosafa qualifiers in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The regional contest runs from August 22-31 in the South African commercial capital.
And the Zimbabwean representatives have added more firepower upfront after securing the Zimbabwe Women’s Premier Soccer League red-hot striker Bethel Kondo, on loan from Faithdrive Academy.
With 17 goals in 16 games, the 19-year-old is the leading scorer in the top-flight and her addition has boosted Vagoni Vebasa’s attacking depth.
She joins the forward line that already has the talented Praynance Zvawanda who has 13 goals this season, Maury Mafuruse, Polite Mabika and her former Faithdrive Academy teammate Morelife Nyagumbo.
The Student Queens are looking to better their performance last year when they were eliminated in the semi-finals by Botswana’s Gaborone United in Malawi.
This year, the Zimbabwean champions have been placed in Group C as seeds along with Mozambique’s Costa do Sol and Comoros’ side Olympic De Moroni. They need to top the pool to advance to the semi-finals. And the addition of Kondo is expected to give them some more options upfront.
Kondo said she can’t wait to participate in the premium continental tournament.
“I am very happy to be at Herentals Queens. They are a big team in the league and Zimbabwe champions for the past three seasons,” said Kondo.
“I am really happy to be heading for the CAF Champions League Cosafa qualifiers.
“This is the reason why we play football, to be competing at the highest level and I am ready to help Herentals Queens as we head to this competition.”
Kondo will not be in strangers’ territory as she has once played alongside Nyagumbo, Christine Zulu, Catherine Gwangwara, Dambamuromo, Mafuruse and Cynthia Shonga at Faithdrive Academy.
Only winners from the 10-team Cosafa qualifier will advance to the continental finals to be held later this year.
