Rhinos Queens get favourable draw
ZIMBABWE’S Black Rhinos Queens will fancy their chances at the inaugural edition of the COSAFA Women’s Champions League.
The tournament, which takes place in South Africa next month, has seen the Rhinos Queens, being handed a relatively easy draw.
The army side were placed in Group B, along with Green Buffaloes Women of Zambia, and TURA Magic of Namibia, in a draw that was conducted in Johannesburg.
Their group has three teams only, while Group A has four.
The two top teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.
This means Kuda Matuwi’s side have better chances of making the last four as they will need to play only two games in the group.
The Zimbabweans evaded host nation representatives, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, who headline Group A, which also has Lesotho Defence Forces, Eswatini’s Manzini Wanders Ladies and Double Action from
Botswana.
Seven teams are taking part in the zonal tournament, which also serves as the main qualifier to the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League, to be held in Egypt, later this year.
The COSAFA Women’s Champions League will take place from August 26 to September 4, in South Africa.
Winners of the tournament will get the sole ticket to represent the region at the continental tournament later this year.
COSAFA general secretary, Sue Destombes, said she was excited by the prospects of holding their first women’s club competition.
“This is a momentous day for us in the COSAFA region,” she said.
“This is something that we have had on our radar for a while, but it’s a great initiative from CAF to implement a Champions League competition and do the qualifiers at a zonal level.
“We have seven teams taking part in 2021, but by next year we hope to have all 14 of our member associations, participating.
“This is just the start, but we are putting a peg in the ground.”
However, Rhinos Queens’ are likely to plunge into the competition without proper preparations.
The army side are still to get the go-ahead to start training ahead of a preliminary zonal eliminator.
They last played competitive football two years ago.
They have been grounded since 2019 due to the Covid-19 lockdowns.
Women’s football failed to kick off in Zimbabwe, when the window was briefly granted, due to administrative bungling.
The leadership failed to organise games, despite the provision of a US$ 500 000 grant by FIFA, to help kickstart the women’s game.
Rhinos applied for special waiver to allow them to train, while observing strict health protocols, but their request has been turned down.
The Sports Commission had promised to review the ban on sports activities, at the end of the initial lockdown, on Tuesday.
However, ZIFA spokesperson, Xolisani
Gwesela, said Rhinos Queens and FC Platinum, who are set to participate in the CAF Champions League in September, have been instructed to wait a bit longer.
“Unfortunately, they have not been granted the permission to start training.
“We asked the authorities at the Sports Commission and they told us sport is still suspended because of the extended coronavirus lockdown measures.
“It’s Government policy and we stand guided by the authorities,” said Gwesela.
COSAFA Group A Women’s Champions League draw:
Mamelodi Sundowns ( SA) Lesotho Defence Forces (Lesotho) Manzini Wanders Ladies (Eswatini) Double Action (Botswana)
Group B
Green Buffaloes (Zambia) Black Rhinos Queens (Zimbabwe)
TURA Magic (Namibia)