Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
HERENTALS Queens coach Irene Mwanza knows the absolute impact their opening match’s result will have in their CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualification bid.
The Zimbabwe champions face Costa do Sol of Mozambique in their opening zonal eliminator at the AW Muller Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, this afternoon.
The game, which marks yet another journey to be among the continent’s big girls, kicks-off at 3pm.
It is the Student Queens’ second appearance at the regional tournament whose winners will advance to the final competition later this year, and the Zimbabweans know what they need to do a little better.
With only three teams in Group C, where the winner is guaranteed progress to the semi-final, the opener will be a “delicate affair and Herentals Queens need to be detailed” to ensure they pick up the maximum points.
“I am really sure Costa do Sol will be very tough and resistant,” Mwanza said.
“It’s going to be a tricky tie for us especially considering that we are the group seeds.
“That means Costa do Sol, a giant in their own right, will be out to prove a point.
“They won’t be under any pressure but will definitely try to prove a point or two.
“But we are here to compete. Our players are here to compete. Herentals Queens are here to compete.
“We are representing our country and we know our objective. At the end of the day, we know we should pick the points and position ourselves well in the group.
“The first game determines your journey especially in a pool where there are only three teams.”
Herentals Queens will play their final group game against Comoros side Olympic de Moroni four days later but Mwanza said: “For now the most important game, maybe a game that we need to take as a final, will be against Costa do Sol.
“It’s the first game of the group, we need to win and take control of the pool then see how it progresses.
“The players are raring to go and that is very encouraging. They are showing the hunger and the spirit is everywhere, at the training ground, at the hotel, in the bus, everywhere . . . ”
As much as participating in this tournament for the second time for the second year running, Herentals Queens will also be banking on continuity.
Only two players who were part of the team that reached the semi-finals in Malawi last year, Melody Chikoore and Egness Tumbare are not in the squad for this year’s edition.
Chikoore is on maternity leave while Tumbare, who was on loan from Correctional Queens then, is back at her club.
But for the loss of the two players, Herentals Queens have acquired six new faces and will be eager to do better than their last year’s semi-final showing.
