Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
MPOPOMA Sports Academy didn’t just win their CAF Under-17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament opener on Monday.
They blew the doors off Ngoni Stadium and left Otjiwarongo Sports Academy of Malawi buried under a 12-goal avalanche that had Norton buzzing all afternoon.
The Bulawayo side walked onto the pitch with confidence and walked off as the team everyone is suddenly watching.
Twelve goals in a single outing sent a message across the COSAFA region.
MPOSA didn’t travel to make up the numbers.
They came to dominate.
The GIFT tournament has brought together eight clubs from across southern Africa.
Zimbabwe’s hopes sit on the shoulders of MPOSA, the development feed for Women’s Premier Soccer League side Mpopoma Queens.
South Africa are in with Mamelodi Sundowns and Refilwe FC.
Namibia have Otjiwarongo Sports Academy and Okakarara Golden Ladies.
Zambia arrived with Aguilla Girls FC. Malawi sent Luwinga Academy and Lesotho are represented by Lishoeshoe.
Coach Evans Neta could hardly hide his delight as his youngsters turned training ground habits into a ruthless show in front of their home crowd.
“I give credit to the girls for such a performance; this is what any coach would want especially when you play at home at a time when we are trying to popularise the women’s game,” he said.
“The outstanding performances did not come as a surprise because the girls have been doing well in training and what they did here was a mere replication of what they do in training.
“The goals were a big message which speaks to our intentions as an Academy and the calibre of players we want to produce.”
Chiedza Khumalo walked away with Player of the Match award after bagging four of Zimbabwe’s twelve. She could have had more.
She tormented Malawi from every angle and turned the game into her own audition for national duty.
The show came in the full view of ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi, his executive and CAF officials, who watched Zimbabwe’s teenagers step onto a bigger stage without flinching.
The fireworks didn’t stop there.
In the earlier game, Sundowns beat Luwinga Academy 3-1.
Today’s fixtures
Otjiwarongo Sports Academy vs Mamelodi Sundowns (Midday)
Mpopoma Sports Academy vs Luwinga Academy (3pm)
