Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE Women’s Premier Soccer League champions Herentals Queens have taken a giant step towards defending the title after going three points ahead in the race, with a game in hand, following their 3-0 victory at Kwekwe Queens on Wednesday.
“Vagoni Vebasa” have won four straight championships on the spin and look firmly placed to stretch it to five this season.
They were already leading the standings on goal difference ahead of their rescheduled fixture on Wednesday as they were tied on 42 points with Chapungu, Black Rhinos and Correctional Queens.
Interestingly, the trio of Rhinos, Chapungu and Correctional have provided the toughest challenge to Herentals over the last four seasons.
Herentals had played two games less than their rivals after falling behind schedule while participating in the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA Qualifiers in Botswana last month.
Although they crashed out of the group stages in the regional qualifier, which was won by South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, Herentals Queens are showing they are still way above the rest back home and are the outright favourites to win the prize and return to the Champions League next year.
In Wednesday’s match, Kwekwe Queens, the only team they lost three points to last season via a boardroom ruling rather than the pitch, looked ready to make the giants sweat for it. Kwekwe Queens can indeed be stubborn with their flair and sheer industry, as they did in this match.
But once they allowed Herentals Queens captain Polite Mabika to ghost in for the opener five minutes before the break, they were never going to stop them from dominating and putting the game to bed.
Cathrine Gwangwara, who is enjoying an improved second season with the College girls, got the second a quarter-of-an-hour after the interval before free scoring and dribbling Queen Bethel Kondo wrapped up the points for Simba Dedza’s charges.
Herentals Queens rarely lose games even against the top guns, as they have shown in the past five years in which they have lost only three games, twice against Rhinos and once to Harare City Queens, minus the controversial 3-0 boardroom defeat to Kwekwe.
In the strength of that context, Dedza is positive but cautious as the season enters its home stretch.
They have already clocked their games against their main nemesis Rhinos, with whom they shared three points apiece, and they will be looking to whitewash the rest.
“I think winning this game was the all-important thing we needed to do,” said Dedza.
“You know when you have a game in hand, you have to make sure that you win it. We have done that, and we have another game in hand that we should win.
“Once we are six points clear, then you know, we will be in cruise control. But there is still a lot of football to be played.
“We still have to play return games against some giants like Chapungu, our bogey side Harare City and Correctional Queens, among others.
“What is important at this point is to ensure that we put in the effort, the maximum effort, and try as much as we can to remain focused.”
For Gwangwara, this season has been great, and she wants to see it off by winning the title.
“I am happy that I have now settled in well at Herentals Queens,” said Gwangwara.
“Last year, I was still learning a thing or two. But I am happy all looks to be well in place now.
“I am positive that we will win our fifth title on the bounce this year, but we should keep our eyes on the ball.”
