Mathew Masinge
Tadious Manyepo in MAPHISA
MPOSA………………………………..0
Herentals Queens…………….(3)6
HERENTALS Queens retained the Independence Trophy in emphatic fashion at Maphisa Stadium this afternoon.
This was only the second time the Independence Trophy involving female teams was staged after its inauguration in Gokwe last year.
It was Vagoni Vebasa, who won it last year after beating Black Rhinos 1-0 and it was always them to win it again this year.
The serial Zimbabwe Women’s Premier Soccer League champions have been the strongest team in the country for more than four years now and they showed their mighty in abundance before an appreciative crowd.
It was more than just sportsmanship to see MPOSA players grabbing and hugging their opponents as they mounted a quarter-guard to honour them.
Herentals Queens’ new signing Lynette Zembe was the star of the show after scoring four goals on her debut with Bethel Kondo and Natasha Benza adding to the tally.
Zimbabwe international Under-15 captain Winnie Mapuwa won her first senior club cap with a solid showing that she capped with a sweet assist for Zembe’s fourth goal.
Herentals Queens got off to a flier as was expected.
Zembe was allowed time to control and literally pass into the net with barely 15 minutes on the clock.
She followed that up with a sublime run and a subsequent strike to double the advantage for Vagoni Vebasa.
Then MPOSA collapsed and catastrophically so.
Herentals Queens took a 3-0 advantage to the break after Kondo rifled home just before the ref’s halftime whistle.
Zembe got another brace in the second half and Benza slotted in.
Herentals Queens were buoyed from the bench by owner Innocent Benza, who sat on the bench as the assistant coach.
Coach Simba Dedza said: “I am over the moon after this emphatic win. We managed to defend the Independence Trophy and we are happy as a team.
“MPOSA is a good team. They had their moments but we managed to neutralize them. Kudos to my players.
“But the celebrations of Independence are all that matter. We are happy.”
MPOSA fielded veteran Nobuhle Majika with the former Mighty Warriors star hailing the spirit with which the game was played.
Online Reporter