HERENTALS Queens are two matches away from lifting the CAF Cosafa Women’s Champions League title and are determined to bring the trophy home.
Vagoni Vebasa, as the team is affectionately known, take on Botswana’s Gaborone United at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre, Malawi, in today’s semi-final.
The winner of the contest will book a spot in this weekend’s final, whose victor will progress to the Caf Champions League finals.
Herentals has had an outstanding performance this far, winning two of their group matches against FC Ongos of Namibia and Zambia champions Green Buffaloes.
Despite losing the dead rubber against South Africa’s University of the Western Cape (UWC), Herentals had done enough to secure the semi-final spot.
Team manager Shylet Chikonyora said her charges were now determined to go all the way.
“We are thrilled to have reached this far, but we are not ready to pack our bags yet,” she said
“We set ourselves a target to bring the trophy home when we were confirmed as one of the participants for this year’s championships.”
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Chikonyora added: “Playing in the semis is a different ball game altogether because naturally, the competition goes a gear up, but we know we have the capacity to deliver. We are looking at nothing short of progressing to the final and eventually winning it.”
Gaborone United secured the top spot in their group, setting up what could be a fascinating encounter against the Zimbabwe’s two-time league champions.
Herentals could have made their life a bit easier had they finished top of their group, but a 2-1 defeat to UWC in a game in which they just needed to draw means they finished second and will face the best team from the other group.
“Playing the last game knowing that we had already qualified for the semis was probably the determining factor that culminated in us losing to UWC. The girls somehow played with that in mind,” Chikonyora said.
“We do not have that luxury now in this encounter. There is no room for complacency and that is the message the coaches have been trying to drive home during training.”
The other semi-final will feature UWC against Young Buffaloes of Eswatini.
