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Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
HERENTALS Queens defender Tabeth Mutinhiri is taking last year’s personal disappointment as fuel to efficiently steer herself in the upcoming CAF Women’s Champions League Cosafa qualifiers.
The zonal eliminator takes place at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa from August 22-31.
Mutinhiri’s Herentals Queens will be competing at this contest for the second year running with expectations high this time around after crashing out at the semi-final hurdle last year.
She wasn’t part of the “Vagoni Vebasa” squad that debuted in this competition in Blantyre, Malawi last year after suffering an injury towards the competition.
It was so nasty, twisting and breaking some ankle ligaments during a training session, that she thought she wouldn’t be able to kick a football again. But with the Herentals College management sending her to the best specialist doctors, Mutinhiri healed quickly so much that her team wanted to fly to Malawi with her just to be able to watch her teammates from the terraces.
But her medical team shot the idea down citing the potential harm the physics associated with height would have on her injury.
“I was so down and almost resigned,” recalls Mutinhiri.
“When I got injured, I was like why me again. The previous season I had been grounded by yet another ankle injury.
“That took a really big toll on the gains I had earned in the game.
“And when I got down in a training session last year only to see my ankle appearing butchered, I was like this is now the end of my career.
“It was by God’s grace that I managed to recover, thanks to my team that forked out thousands to get me back on my feet.
“I was longing to play in the CAF Women’s Champions League Cosafa qualifiers but the injury put paid to those ambitions.
“And when I thought I would be able to support the girls from the terraces with everything in place, I was advised against the idea by the medical staff.”
But she is back, towering in central defence for the Student Queens once again and ready to showcase herself in the upcoming regional contest whose winner will advance to the Champions League finals proper later in the year.
Mutinhiri has been an ever-present in the 17 games Herentals Queens have played in the Women’s Premier Soccer League partnering Talent Mukwanda in the most solid centre-back union in the country.
They are second on the log, two points behind Chapungu Queens who they could have eclipsed with a win had their match, scheduled for this Saturday, not been shelved to allowed the country’s prime team to prepare for the continental tournament.
Interestingly the same fixture was also carried over due to the same reason last year.
Herentals Queens are chasing for a fourth straight title this season and it is well within their reach but will only get the chance to cut the gap between themselves and the leaders after returning from South Africa.
And for Mutinhiri this year’s Champions League presents herself with an opportunity to spiritually heal from last season’s wounds.
“All I want now is to play well and be able to help Herentals Queens win the regional qualifier.
“The team outdid themselves last year after reaching the semi-finals last year. We have a chance to do well this time around,” added Mutinhiri.
“Certainly, we need to up our game, take the initiative right from the first whistle and be consistent. Personally, I will finally fulfil my wish and that should also come with the success of the team.”
Herentals Queens are in Group C at the 10-team tournament, alongside Mozambique’s Costa do Sol and Olympic de Moroni of Comoros.
Only pool winners will advance to the semi-finals where they will meet victors from Group B which is being led by last season’s finalists Gaborone United of Botswana, Eswatini’s Young Buffaloes and Kick4Life from Lesotho.
Group A has former African champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, Ntopwa of Malawi, Namibia’s Beauties and ZESCO Ndola of Zambia.
The top two from Group A will meet in the other semi-final.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter