Herentals Queens, Platinum Royals clash in season-opener

Grace Chingoma

Senior Sports Reporter

THE Zimbabwe Women’s Football League is set to kick off this coming Saturday with the big clash between the champions Herentals Queens against debutantes Platinum Royals at Mandava Stadium.

They don’t come any bigger than this in the women’s Super League.

Herentals won their first ever league title last year to dislodge perennial champions Black Rhinos Queens while Platinum Royals were promoted from the Central Region Division One, amid huge expectations, just one year after the team’s formation.

Platinum Royals are the women’s football version of Castle Lager Premiership serial champions of FC Platinum.

The Zvishavane side has roped in the Mighty Warriors coach Sithetheliwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda as the head coach of Platinum Royals.

Platinum Royals are among the three clubs that were promoted from the ZIFA Divisions One region.

Maningi FC were promoted from the Northern Region where they finished second. They took up the slot which was meant for Auckland.

Shine Shine were promoted from the Eastern Region while Southern Region champions Bulawayo Chiefs pulled out leaving the league with 15 teams.

The women’s league will start with Chapungu Queens on a bye this weekend.

Fixtures

Matchday 1: April 29: Black Rhinos Queens v Black Mambas Queens (2 Brigade), Platinum Royals v Herentals Queens (Mandava Stadium), Maningi Youth Academy v Yadah Queens (Ngoni Stadium), Shine Shine Queens v MSU Queens (Mucheke Stadium), Borrow Jets v Harare City Queens (Luveve B Arena), Correctional Queens v Conduit Soccer Academy (Wagadhugu Stadium), Faith Drive Academy v Chipembere Queens (TBA).

Bye: Chapungu Queens

Matchday 2: May 6: Chapungu Queens v Platinum Royals (Manyame Air Base Sports Club), Yadah Queens v Black Rhinos Queens (Yadah Ground), Herentals Queens v Shine Shine Queens (Motor Action Sports Club), Harare City Queens v Maningi Queens (National Sports Stadium B Arena), MSU Queens v Correctional Queens (MSU Grounds), Black Mambas Queens v Borrow Jets (Mkushi Sports Club), Conduit Soccer Academy v Faith Drive Academy (TBA).

Bye: Black Mambas Queens

Matchday 3: May 13: Black Mambas Queens v Yadah Queens (Mkushi Sports Club), Shine Shine Queens v Chapungu Queens (Mucheke Stadium), Black Rhinos Queens v Harare City Queens (2 Brigade), Correctional Queens v Herentals Queens (Wagadhugu Stadium), Maningi Youth Academy v Chipembere Queens (TBA), Borrow Jets v Conduit Soccer Academy (Luveve B Arena).

Bye: Platinum Royals

Matchday 4: May 20: Platinum Royals v Shine Shine Queens (Mandava Stadium), Harare City v Black Mambas Queens (National Sports Stadium B arena), Chapungu Queens v Correctional Queens (Manyame Air Base), Chipembere Queens v Black Rhinos Queens (Mkomba Stadium), Herentals Queens v Faith Drive Academy (Motor Action Sports Club), Conduit Soccer Academy v Maningi Youth Academy (TBA), MSU Queens v Borrow Jets (MSU Grounds).

Bye: Yadah Queens

Matchday 5: May 27: Yadah Queens v Harare City Queens (Yadah Ground), Correctional Queens v Platinum Royals (Wagadhugu Stadium), Black Mambas Queens v Chipembere Queens (Mkushi Sports Club), Faith Drive Academy v Chapungu Queens (TBA), Black Rhinos Queens v Conduit Soccer Academy (2 Brigade), Borrow Jets v Herentals Queens (Luveve B Arena), Maningi Youth Academy v MSU Queens (Ngoni Stadium).

Bye: Shine Shine Queens.

Matchday 6: June 6: Shine Shine v Correctional Queens (Mucheke Stadium), Chipembere Queens v Yadah (Mkoba Stadium), Platinum Royals v Faith Drive Academy (Mandava), Conduit Soccer Academy v Black Mambas Queens (TBA), Chapungu Queens v Borrow Jets (Manyame Air Base Sports Club), MSU Queens v Black Rhinos Queens (MSU Ground), Herentals Queens v Manini Youth Academy (Motor Action Sports Club).

Bye: Harare City Queens

Matchday 7: June 10:  Harare City Queens v Chipembere Queens (National Sports Stadium B Arena), Faith Drive v Shine Shine Queens (TBA), Yadah Queens v Conduit Soccer Academy (Yadah Ground), Borrow Jets v Platinum Royals (Luveve B Arena), Black Mambas Queens v MSU Queens (Mkushi sports Club), Maningi Youth Academy v Chapungu Queens (Ngoni Stadium), Black Rhinos Queens v Herentals Queens (2 Brigade).

Bye: Correctional Queens.

Matchday 8: June 17: Correctional Queens v Faith Drive (Wagadhugu), Conduit Soccer Academy v Harare City Queens (TBA), Shine Shine Queens v Borrow Jets (Mucheke Stadium), MSU Queens v Yadah Queens (MSU Ground), Platinum Royals v Maningi Youth Academy (Mandava), Herentals Queens v Black Mambas Queens (Motor Action Sports Club), Chapungu Queens v Black Rhinos Queens (Manyame air Base).

Bye: Chipembere Queens

Matchday 9: June 24: Chipembere v Conduit Soccer Academy (Mkoba), Borrow Jets v Correctional Queens (Luveve B Arena), Harare City v MSU Queens (NSS B Arena), Maningi v Shine Shine (Ngoni Stadium), Yadah Queens v Herentals (Yadah), Black Rhinos Queens v Platinum Royals (2 Brigade), Black Mambas v Chapungu (Mkushi).

Bye: Faith Drive

Matchday 10: July 1: Faith Drive v Borow Jets (TBA), MSU v Chipembere (MSU Ground), Correctional Queens v Maningi (Wagadhugu), Herentlas v Harare City (Motor Action), Shine Shine v Black Rhinos (Mucheke), Chapungu v Yadah (Manyame Air Base), Platinum Royals v Black Mambas Queens (Mandava).

 

Bye: Conduit Soccer Academy