Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
HERENTALS Queens midfielder, Yeukai Chipatiko, believes “Vagoni Vebasa” have the right kind of stuff required to compete well in the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers.
The Zimbabwe representatives will jet out tomorrow for the regional eliminator slated for Johannesburg, South Africa, from August 22-31.They return to the zonal tournament a year after finishing in the semi-finals on their debut in Blantyre, Malawi in August last year.
Only winners from this competition advance to the final tournament pitting victors from each of the continent’s six sub-regions, scheduled for late this year.
And the Zimbabwean side are looking to become the first team from this country to conquer the region in a contest that will see 10 clubs fighting for honours.
As the Students Queens concluded their final local preparation lap in Harare yesterday, the combative Chipatiko said:
“I am happy with how our team has prepared for this year’s CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers.
“I am seeing focused girls who are determined to conquer, focused individuals who fully know the value of unity in the team.
“The attitude is magnificent. The confidence and mentality is very positive.
“The vibe is really telling. It’s unlike last year when we had a lot of nerves stiffening just at the idea that we were going to face foreign teams.”
Seeded in Group C alongside Mozambique giants Costa do Sol and Olympic de Moroni of Comoros, with only the winners getting to progress to the semi-finals, Herentals Queens know they have a big job to complete.
Group A, which is headlined by serial champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, has four teams from which the top two will go to the last four.
Just like Group C, Group B has three teams with only the winners assured of a spot in the semis and bookmakers would tip Gaborone United of Botswana, who beat Herentals in the last four the last time out, to win the pool.
That will set another epic semi-final showdown in what would be a repeat of last year’s encounter should the Zimbabweans conquer in their group.
“Taking it game by game,” said Chipatiko.
“We will only cross the river when we get there. That’s simple. We don’t have to look beyond the next opponent.
“We are absolutely focused. Every 90 minutes will be key for us.
“We are not underrating our opponents because they have been there before. We are definitely confident but never over-confident.”
Herentals Queens will this year take a lot of depth to the competition after signing a number of new players like Morelife Nyagumbo, Bethel Kondo, Catherine Gwangwara, Eunice Chibanda and Christabel Zulu, among others.
Mathew Masinge