Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze-Zimpapers Sports Hub
HERENTALS Queens now look to intensify their preparations for the CAF Women’s Champions COSAFA Qualifiers after learning of their fixture programme from the tournament organisers yesterday.
Scheduled to run between August 20 and 29 in Gaborone, Botswana, the tournament draws eight top teams from the Southern African women’s football leagues to battle for the regional title.
Winners from the contest will grab the solitary ticket reserved for the CAF Women’s Champions League continental finals later this year.
Zimbabwe Women Premier Soccer League four-time champions Herentals are pencilled in to face off ZESCO Ndola Girls in Group A, in a tournament opener at GU Stadium. Kick-off is 12 noon.
All matches will be broadcast live on FIFA+ and COSAFA’s YouTube channel.
“When fixtures are out like this, you know the games are about to begin…every player, coach and even the club start taking everything seriously,” said Herentals coach Simbarashe Dedza.
“Since the season started, we have been preparing for this tournament but you know at this stage, preparations go a notch higher.”
Group A will get the competition under way on August 20 before hosts Gaborone United open their campaign against Lesotho Defence Force Ladies at 3pm.
The first of the Group B matches will be played the following day, with Mozambique’s Costa do Sol taking on Malawi’s Silver Strikers at 12 noon while two-time regional champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies meet Eswatini representatives Nsingizini Hotspurs at 3pm.
Group A will continue on August 22 when Lesotho Defence Forces Ladies battle it out against ZESCO Ndola Girls while Gaborone United host Herentals Queens on the same day.
The second round of Group B matches will follow on August 23, with Nsingizini Hotspurs meeting Costa do Sol and Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies facing Silver Strikers.
Herentals will then play their final Group A game against Lesotho Defense Forces Ladies in a midday assignment at before Gaborone United cap the group A contests with a date against ZESCO Ndola Girls three hours later.
Group B will conclude on August 25, when Silver Strikers take on Nsingizini Hotspurs as Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies lock horns with Costa do Sol.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to the semi-finals on August 27 with the Group B winners dating the Group A runners-up while the Group A winners meet the Group B runners-up.
“It is a tricky tournament for us, the opponents are virtually unknown to us so you cannot predict or estimate, underestimate an unfamiliar rival which means we need to focus on ourselves,” added Dedza.
“We need to come up with a proper game plan and then ensure that we take control of the match’s proceedings and force the opponent to chase the game.
“In this regard, we need players who have a strong character, so we will go with experience over everything…and I think we have the personnel who can handle such fixtures.”
Dedza will be expected to bank on experienced defensive mainstays Bridget Mutaurwa, Talent Mukwanda and Egness Tumbare to provide a protective shield on goalkeepers Cynthia Shonga or Lindiwe Magwede.
Captain Tabeth Mutinhiri might once again see sporadic game time at the tournament as she is just returning from injury.
In his attacking end, Dedza will look up to Kudakwashe Basopo whose international experience will play a key role and give youngsters like Bethel Kondo the confidence.
“We have dominated the local league for years and this is now time to take it regional; we learnt in our past two participations and this time we have to go and stamp some authority.
“Preparations are in progress, physically we are fit and what we need now is the right mentality for such games…our aim is to make it to the Champions League final.”
