Herentals salvage pride as LDF take lessons
Kabelo Boranabi | Tuesday August 25, 2026 09:56
The Zimbabwean champions beat LDF 1-0 in the final round of Group A matches yesterday at GU Stadium to finish third, while their opponents ended bottom of the group. Both teams went into the encounter already eliminated from the competition after reigning champions, Gaborone United's (GU) Red Roses and ZESCO Ndola Girls secured the group’s two semi-final places by winning their opening two matches. With little more than pride to play for, Herentals made sure they did not leave the tournament empty-handed.
Teenage forward, Winnie Mapuwa scored the only goal of the match in the 33rd minute, beating the LDF goalkeeper with a composed effort into the bottom corner. LDF remained threatening on the counter-attack, as they had throughout the tournament, but Herentals carried the greater attacking threat and could have extended their advantage. Following the game, Herentals Queens' assistant coach, Simbarashe Dedza said finishing with three points was important after a difficult start to the tournament. “I think it is great for us not to finish at the bottom, at least finishing at a reasonable position. That's what we fought for, so that we go home at least with three points, at least with a win,” he said. Dedza added that his side had learnt from their earlier mistakes, particularly in defence, where the team had struggled in the opening matches. “We were solid today, we did not concede, which was key in our last games because we conceded easily,” the coach said.
According to Dedza, the team had grown in confidence as the tournament progressed after initially starting nervously. For his part, LDF coach Nation Dube said the campaign provided valuable experience despite the disappointing results. Dube, who only joined the team a month before the tournament, stated that the competition had shown his players the importance of taking their chances and maintaining their fighting spirit. “The first thing is, when you get your chances, you just have to convert them,” he said.
“Even if they score first, we just have to keep fighting. We don't just give up.” Dube described the campaign as a learning curve and said LDF would use the experience to prepare for a stronger return. “It is just work in progress,” he said. “Next year we are coming stronger.”