adminMzingaye Sibanda, Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO giants New Orleans and Barrow Jets will clash in the NetOne Charity Shield women’s soccer qualifiers at Barbourfields Grounds tomorrow.The local cellular service provider NetOne this week unveiled a $75 000 package for women’s football.
New Orleans director Khanyiso Bhebhe in an interview yesterday said they are ready for the first round as their main target is to reach the final of the tournament.
“The weekend is too far away, we can’t wait to play and the morale is high in our camp. I’m positive we will go beyond the first round, our target is to play in the final of the tournament,” he said.
New Orleans, once the darling of Zimbabwean women’s soccer have embarked on a recruitment drive adding three new faces from schools in Matabeleland South.
They have Simelokuhle Ndlovu and Sincengile Sibanda from Selonga Secondary School while Sehlisile Nyoni came from Nswazi High School.
“We have youngsters in our team, our aim is to groom talent, we have managed to scout promising players from the region to strengthen the squad and we are positive they will do the job on Saturday,” said Bhebhe.
Bhebhe bemoaned the absence of star players, Portia Mukusha, Prisca Khumalo and Nokuthula Ndlovu who are on national duty in Egypt.
New Orleans’ opponents Borrow Jets have lost 12 players in the past year as there was no activity in the sport.
“There have been no activity in the league for a while, so most of our players have gone AWOL, therefore with the time frame we were given to prepare, we will do all we can to proceed to the next round,” said club director Thembelani Dliwayo.
Fixtures:
New Orleans v Borrow Jets (Barbourfields Stadium ), Masvingo Queens v Tenax (Mucheke), Aces v Flame Lily (Rufaro), Auckland v Conduits (Jumbo).
Online Reporter