Harambee Starlet’s goal poacher Aquino geared up for big tourney with TZ club
Harambee Starlets midfielder Vivian Corazone Aquino is looking forward to representing Simba Queens in a big-time event exactly 10 months after joining the Tanzanian Women’s Premier League champions on a two-year deal.
Aquino, an out and out goal-poacher, can’t wait to represent Tanzania’s emissaries in the CAF Women’s Champions League in the competition penciled for October 30-November 13 in Morocco.
“It has all along been my dream of playing for a team of Simba Queens caliber but to say that I’m excited to be part of their journey in the continental showcase would be an understatement,’’ said Aquino.
Aquino who previously featured for the Kenya Women’s Premier League Premier League side Gaspo Women
Added Aquino: “It’s unfortunate that my own national team (Harambee Starlets) was not part of the qualifying campaign due to the ban imposed on Kenya by Fifa, but let me prove just what’s up my skills in the paid ranks in Tanzania.”
Since joining Simba Queens last January, the 24-year-old, who also had a previous stint at Portuguese side Atletico Ouriense, has carved a niche for herself and was instrumental in the team qualifying to the continental showcase.
Simba Queens have been drawn in a ‘’Group of Death” in the competition although book-makers expect them to navigate through the same to reach the knock-out stage.
The team is in group A alongside hosts, ASFAR FC, who clinched a bronze medal in last year’s edition of the tournament held in Egypt.
The group also includes Zambia’s Green Buffaloes and Liberia’s Determine Girls FC. Group B has defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies of South Africa, Nigeria’s Bayelsa Queens, Egypt’s Wadi Degla and UNIFFAC representatives.
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies are the defending champions who claimed the title in the first edition of the competition.
Already, Simba Queens are planning to set up camp abroad ahead of the competition.
Simba Queens head coach Sebastian Nkoma said his players are now on a two-week holiday after a commendable job to win the trophy of the CECAFA Zone and make the new history of being the first women’s team in the country to qualify for the prestigious tournament.
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies are the defending champions who claimed the title in the first edition of the competition.
