Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
IT is just difficult to anticipate how long Herentals Queens’ dominance in the Zimbabwe Women Premier Soccer League will continue as they appear poised for a fifth consecutive dance on the big stage.
This comes after the defending champions shot to the top of the log table at the midweek following a thorough 6-0 drubbing of Conduit’s Queens midweek away win.
With 14-games into the current campaign, the Innocent Benza owned side now occupy the summit with 33 points to their name, tied with Chapungu.
Herentals tasted defeat once, recorded three draws while the other 10 games ended in victory.
Correctional Queens are third placed on the table, also with 32 points in two defeats and an equal number of draws.
Now with four titles in a row to their name, Herentals appear determined to bag a fifth.
“It is our ambition to win the championship every season so whenever we prepare, we do so with the eye on the prize,” said head coach Simbarashe Dedza.
In the previous seasons, Herentals would start their campaign on an average note, but once they shoot to the top around the midway mark, they become unstoppable.
And after Wednesday when they moved to pole position, many are now convinced that the defending champions are back in cruise mode.
Precisely, they came into the spotlight in 2022, throwing Black Rhinos Queens off the rails after a three-year dominance.
Since then, Vagoni Vebasa as they are affectionately known have been unstoppable.
Herentals are powered by the wealth from Herentals Group of Schools and stability seems to be part of their winning formula.
Unlike most women’s football teams who survive from hand to mouth and are unable to remunerate players, Herentals have a different story.
The paymasters always make sure that players receive their salaries and bonuses.
Due to the sound financial backing, Herentals have also managed to keep intact the core of their squad for seasons.
“The team has continuity because we barely lose players during the transfer periods,” Dedza said.
“We see that as an advantage for us, now we have a team made up of players who deeply understand each other and that makes the game a lot easier for them.
“After spending years together Herentals Queens is now like a family to the players; they are now very close like that so it translates to the field of play.”
Unlike most individually owned ZWPSL sides, Herentals have also been able to lure talent from other clubs while also promoting some from their developmental sides.
This season they brought in Poneso Chari from their Division one side with the defender already making an impact at the heart of the team’s defense.
Dedza said while it is early to talk about the championship race considering the tight contest at the top, they are eyeing the biggest prize.
“Any team wants to win the championship, we are not leaving anything to chance so if we are competitive enough, then let us win it,” he said.
“We continue to hunt for talent and make sure that we have a strong team; remember we are also going to play in the African Safari again while we now have the Munhumutapa Cup as well.
“This means that we are looking at triple preparations; we need a lot of depth and right now I believe we are good to go.”
