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Tadious Manyepo in PRETORIA, South Africa
THE Mighty Warriors may have failed to pick bronze at the Cosafa Women’s Championship but they have something to celebrate after Cynthia Shonga won the tournament’s Golden Glove award.
The 23-year-old Harare City goalkeeper sat out yesterday’s bronze match as coach Shadreck Mlauzi started Lindiwe Magwede in goal.
But she had already done enough to claim the award for the safest hands at the regional fiesta won by Malawi who beat Zambia 2-1 in the final.
Shonga conceded just two goals in four games. After keeping two clean sheets in the opening two games against Lesotho and Namibia, Shonga would be breached in the last group match against Botswana when Zimbabwe posted a 1-1 draw.
She then conceded in the 1-0 semi-final defeat to Zambia before Magwede was entrusted with keeping the goal in yesterday’s lose to Mozambique.
What made it even sweeter for Shonga is the fact that she also won the same accolade in the Under-20 Cosafa Championships in Port Elizabeth four years ago.
Then, just like now, she was being mentored by Ndega Matsika.
“I am extremely happy after winning this accolade. I also won this gong in 2019 when we played in the Under-20 Cosafa tournament.
Then, just like now, we finished fourth in the tournament,” said Shonga.
“I would like to salute everyone in the squad right from the technical team to the fans. This prize is for the team. Every player in our squad deserves a share of the prize. The girls really put on the work only that we are disappointed by the fact that we failed to win any medal as a team.
“But look at where we are coming from. The future is looking very bright”.
Online Reporter