ZIMBABWE representatives in the African Safari Herentals have intensified preparations for their maiden Caf Women's Champions League Cosafa region qualifiers set to run in Malawi next month.
The Lady Students will participate in an eight-team Cosafa qualifying tournament from August 16 to 24.
South Africa will be represented by University of the Western Cape, who will replace champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who have under performed since the beginning of the tournament three years ago.
The other teams participating in this year's edition are Botswana's Gaborone United, Young Buffaloes of Eswatini, hosts Malawi's Ascent Academy, UD Lichinga of Mozambique, Namibia's FC Ongos and Green Buffaloes of Zambia.
Herentals Queens manager Shylet Chikonyora is upbeat the absence of Mamelodi Sundowns this year will enhance her team’s chances of finishing in the top two.
“It's at our advantage, Sundowns is a big team and a big challenge as well so we can say it's one team down, very happy about it and it's to our advantage,” Chikonyora told NewsDay Sport.
“We are targeting a top two finish. We have been preparing for these games since we got crowned league champions and knew these games would be coming at a later stage.”
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Last Friday, Herentals Queens intensified their preparations with a match against the Harare Select side from the Zimbabwean Women Premier Soccer League. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Herentals taking a halftime lead through Praynence Zvawanda before Daisy Kaitano equalised for Harare Select in the 62nd minute.
“We are ready for the games, we did not buy any players to beef up the squad for the Caf championships because we want our Queens to enjoy the fruits of their hard work,” she added.
Herentals Queens will also organise tough matches to build resilience in the players so that they will not crumble at the tourney, Chikonyora said.
