HERENTALS Women’s football team got off to a flying start after beating FC Ongos of Namibia 3-1 in their opening match of the Caf Women’s Champions League Cosafa Region qualifiers in Blantyre, Malawi.
Playing in their debut continental assignment, the Lady Students drew first blood courtesy of a Maudy Mafuruse strike in the 21st minute.
Egnes Tumbare doubled the lead eight minutes later with Herentals going for the breather with a healthy 2-0 lead.
Herentals put the game beyond FC Ongos reach with a cushion goal after 71 minutes before the Namibians got their consolation moments later.
Mafuruse was named player of the match.
The win put the Lady Students in a good stead heading into their second Group A match against Zambia’s Green Buffaloes tomorrow.
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Herentals team manager Shylet Chikonyora expressed delight after winning their tournament's opener with relative ease.
“This is exactly what we were looking for, winning our first match, which gives us a good chance of progressing to the next stage,” Chikonyora told NewsDay Sport.
“The next important tie is the match against Green Buffaloes on Saturday [tomorrow], so that’s where our sole focus is on right now.”
Herentals complete their group stage match against South Africa’s University of the Western Cape on Monday.
The top two teams from the two groups proceed to the semi-finals.