The Sunday News
Muzingaye Ncube Sports Reporter—
ACTION returns to women football as the battle for the NetOne Charity Shield honours continues with Bulawayo-based Inline Academy hosting Cyclone Stars from Harare in a semi-final encounter at Barham Green Sports Club grounds this morning. Inline reached the semi-finals following an impressive 5-3 away victory over Auckland of Mazoe last month.
An upbeat Inline coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15’’ Sibanda said they had prepared well for the encounter and were raring to go.
“We will be taking a cautious approach because we cannot afford to under-estimate our opponents as they are an equally good side,” said Sibanda after her side’s morning training session yesterday.
The inaugural women’s soccer Netone Charity Shield has a prize money of $75 000.
Cyclone Stars head coach Prosper Manzungu said the hosts should expect a good run for their money.
“We will take the game like any other game, we are not afraid of our opponents. We know that they are a big team but just like any other team we cannot approach a match with a losing mentality.
“We will be hoping to cause an upset in the City of Kings,” vowed Manzungu.
Manzungu said his team will field a younger team as they seek to expose the youngsters to bigger matches.
“We will be fielding a young team but they also have a winning mentality because they are the same team that knocked out Flame Lily in the quarter-finals at Rufaro Stadium, beating them 2-0,” he said.
Lobengula-based Inline Academy is home to the talented Mighty Warriors duo of goal poacher Rudo Neshamba and combative defender Nobuhle Majika.
