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.
The ladies were already leading the standings on goal difference ahead of their rescheduled fixture as they were tied on 42 points with Chapungu, Black Rhinos and Correctional Queens, the three teams that have given them challenges in their last four triumphs.
However, they 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, in the boardroom rather than on the pitch though, looked ready to make the giants sweat for it.
Kwekwe Queens proved to be stubborn with their flair in this match.
But once they allowed Herentals Queens captain Polite Mabika to ghost in the opener five minutes before the break, they could not 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 goal 15 minutes after the interval before free-scoring and dribbling Queen Bethel Kondo wrapped the points for Simba Dedza’s charges.
Herentals Queens rarely lose games. In the past five years, they have only lost three games, twice against Black Rhinos and once to Harare City Queens.
Then, of course, there is the controversial 3-0 boardroom defeat to Kwekwe Queens.
In the strength of that context, Dedza is positive but cautious as the season enters the home stretch.
They have already clocked their games against their main nemesis, Black Rhinos Queens, 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.
“When you have a game in hand, you have to make sure 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.”
