Wilson Chipangura, Guest Reporter
DURBAN – Black Rhinos Queens (Zimbabwe) began their COSAFA Women’s Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over fancied Zambian side Green Buffaloes at King Zwelithini Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Rhinos got their goals from Marjory Nyaumwe and Cristobel Katona in the 60th minute and 73rd minute respectively to collect full set of points.
Buffaloes opened their campaign against Queens on Friday full of confidence with a number of players who competed at the recent Olympic Games in Tokyo, but found a resolute opponent to deal with on the day.
The two sides are in Group B along with TURA Magic from Namibia, with the top two teams advancing to the semifinals.
The winner of this maiden COSAFA Women’s Champions League will qualify for the inaugural 2021 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League finals in Egypt.
Rhinos Queens had shambolic preparations for the tournament but looked the better team of the day in all areas with seasoned striker Nyaumwe a menace all afternoon.
The match started with Zimbabwe’s side on the front foot and could have opened their account in the 20th minute Tumbare but the effort was saved.
Half-time the match was all square.
Buffaloes came back a better side for the first fifteen minutes with Pumulo coming close but nothing materialised.
Rhinos settled into the match and began to attack Buffaloes more often which resulted in a corner kick in the 60th minute.
Zimbabwe international Marjory Nyaumwe rose to the highest to head home the corner for a Rhinos Queens goal.
The goal seemed to have unsettled Buffaloes who conceded a second one thirteen minutes later from rookie forward Katona.
Queens will face TURA Magic on Sunday and will qualify for the next round if they can get at least a point while their next opponents will face Buffaloes on Tuesday in the last match of the group.
