dyton mupawaenda
Tadious Manyepo in BLANTYRE, Malawi
HERENTALS QUEENS have captured the imagination of many at the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers in Malawi.
Rank outsiders before the regional contest commenced, the Students have defied the odds by clinching a semi-final place after sending regulars FC Ongos of Namibia and former champions and Zambian giants Green Buffaloes packing.
The stocky Zimbabweans, who have played with so much conviction have been helped in no small part by the telepathic connection between their players.
While this team has been together for the past two years in which they have been the league champions, most of the players have had previous stints at same clubs, helping them develop some chemistry which has been laid bare in this competition.
Despite conceding three goals in as many group games, the Herentals Queens back line has been one of the most outstanding organised departments across the teams.
Veteran goalkeeper Lindiwe Magwede has been outstanding too and she feels having some trusted shields in front of her has helped her in a huge part.
Magwede and the central defence partnership of Talent Mukwanda and Egness Tumbare have played together at national team level several times.
And Tumbare believes that is partly the reason why she has found it easy to gel in a team she is only debuting for in this competition.
The 31-year-old Correctional Officer only signed for Vagoni Vebasa on July 31,trained with them for a week or so and plunged straight into this CAF Women’s Champion League zonal eliminators where she is doing wonders.
“I have previously played at this tournament when I represented Black Rhinos some three years ago.
“I joined Herentals Queens a fortnight ago but I tell you, I has been flawless. I have played with Lindiwe Magwede and Talent Mukwanda in exactly the same formation we are using at national team level. In a way that has helped me settle fast. I have also played at Silver Queens with Mukwanda in Epworth and we were there for years. So the combination is natural,” said Tumbare.
“When the ball comes and she is there, I know exactly what she would do. The same applies to me.
“So the gelling has been smooth and we are hoping to continue like that until we win the tournament and qualify for the final contest.”
Other shining stars, left-back Alice Moyo, midfielder Shyline Dambamuromo and Maudy Mafuruse, who have scored three goals between themselves trace their roots to Faithdrive Academy.
They spent close to four years playing together before they also arrived at the Harare team together, first as loanees, back in 2022.
Mafuruse said she is at home playing with anyone but having Moyo and Dambamuromo in the team makes her tick even better.
“I can play with any player chosen to play and still prosper. Dambamuromo and Moyo have been my teammates maybe for six years now. It’s not a secret they know how I play and you see one of the goals I scored in this tournament was assisted by Moyo because of that,” said Mafuruse.
“I am happy that club president Professor Innocent Benza decided to take all of us on board from Faithdrive.
“Our combination has helped each of us to do well and ultimately the team has been firing. The teamwork has been amazing as well.”
Strikers Melody Chikore and Praynence Zvawanda have played in the same team since they were both only 13 when representing the country at Cossasa championships.
“We have played with Zvawanda since we were about 13 years old.
“She would play as the centre-forward while I was behind her,” said Chikore.
“We also played alongside each other for every Mighty Warriors age-group level.
“So our combination in the field of play is as good as our relationship outside it. You saw how she left that ball which I scored against FC Ongos. She knew exactly where I would be and decided to leave the ball.
“At Herentals as well, we do those drills and the team is amazing.”
Bridget Mutaurwa and Millanda Chimbwanda also had a successful time playing together at Chipembere Queens.
Herentals Queens will be hoping to once again navigate through the semi-final tomorrow.
Coach Lazarus Magaya said his charges are geared for the challenge tomorrow.
It wasn’t clear by late yesterday which team the Zimbabweans would face between Malawi’s Ascent and Young Buffaloes of Eswatini as Group B was still to be decided.
After finishing second in Group A behind University of Western Cape, Herentals Queens will meet the winners from Group B with only the tournament winners guaranteed a place in the final tournament coming in October.
“My girls are looking forward to a good outing in the semi-finals.
“They are fighters and I know they will be eager to make a huge impact,” said Magaya.
“I am loving the vibe in the camp and the team is well motivated.”
Online Reporter