Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
IN a way, Herentals Queens’ destiny at the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifier in South Africa is firmly back in their hands, thanks to a combination of results across the three groups.
But the Zimbabwe champions will have to suffer to really get the job done at the AW Muller Stadium in Johannesburg.
The feeling in the Zimbabweans camp has completely changed from the negativity and regret that filtered across the camp when Vagoni Vebasa faltered in their 2-0 opening defeat to Mozambique side Costa do Sol. There is work, loads of it, that needs to be done though, as the Student Queens should win by at least a five-goal margin to secure a semi-final berth.
They play Comoros side Olympic de Moroni in what should be a winner-takes-all final group game at 3pm today.
While Olympic de Moroni can advance to the last four with a win of any margin having picked up a point in their 2-2 draw against Costa do Sol on Monday, Herentals Queens need a win and more goals to progress as the best-placed runners-up across the three groups.
Group A, which was secured by Mamelodi Sundowns yesterday, has Zambian side ZESCO Ndola as the runners-up with three points and a plus-two goal difference, given their result against basement side Ntopwa will be set aside as their pool was the only one with four teams. Group B will be determined today when Gaborone United with three points and a plus-one goal advantage face Lesotho’s Kick4Life, who are pointless after losing their opener against Eswatini’s Young Buffaloes.
That means no team in second place in this group will exceed three points leaving the Zimbabweans in a position to fight for their own progress by raining goals against the Indian Ocean islanders.
“We know what needs to be done and the good thing is it will all come down to us,” said striker Elizabeth Bvunzawabaya.
“We messed up in the first game but we are not that team to cry over things we no longer have control over.
“We can only do well in the match against Olympic de Moroni and get going. “We have done all we can to prepare ourselves both physically and mentally. Technically and tactically, we know where we stand.
“We should be relentless and spray bullets all over their goal and see what happens.”
The girls were cheered yesterday by the arrival of club president Innocent Benza with South Africa-based Zimbabwean company Zororo-Phumulani, also raising their moral obligation after donating some goodies worth around R15 000.
“It’s our own way of cheering our own team, which we know is representing our country,” said Zororo-Phumulani representative Tendai Mangoti.
“We hope that this gesture will inspire the Queens to put in the shift and do what ought to be done to nail a semi-final berth.
“We are delighted to associate ourselves with them and be part of their story.”
Coach Irene Mwanza’s charges yesterday trained with a lot of zeal and passion with no-one sidelined for the fixture.
Online Reporter