Daily Archives: November 4, 2012

Banyana crashed Congo on their way to Semi

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BY Obakeng Maje

Banyana Banyana booked themselves a place in the semi-finals of the CAF African Women’s Championship 2012, after outplaying the Democratic Republic of Congo 4-1 in their final Group A fixture in Bata, Equatorial Guinea on Saturday, 3 November 2012.

 

A hat-trick of goals from tall Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (Sasol League Gauteng) striker Andisiwe Mgcoyi paved the way for a win that has set the Sasol-sponsored South African senior national women’s team up for semifinal action at the same venue on Wednesday (7 November)- with Group B log leaders and Africa’s No 1 side Nigeria, the likely opponents.

 

Cape Town Roses (Sasol League Western Cape) attacker Leandra Smeda – brought into the side on the right wing in place of Nocawe Skiti – put the South Africans ahead as early as the 3rd minute, as she tapped home a square ball range, delivered by team captain Amandai Dlamini.

 

Seven minutes later, Mgcoyi had an easy tap-in goal, finishing off a cross from the right from striker Jermaine Seoposenwe.

 

The South Africans could easily have been 5-0 by the break, but increased their advantage in the second half. Mgcoyi carved a cross through the Congolese defence before firing home three minutes after the break, and scored again from close range in the 57th minute.

 

The Congolese scored a consolation goal against the run of play in the 88th minute via defender Jolie Tutzolana who fired the ball home from 18m out, with SA goalkeeper Thoko Mnadweni having no chance of pulling off a save.

 

Banyana Banyana went into the game needing a draw or win to secure their spot in the semifinals, but national head coach Joseph Mkhonza can be proud of the effort put in by his players on the slippery Nkoantoma stadium surface following light rain leading up to the match.

 

“We have now qualified for the knock-out stages of the competition, for us this means anything is possible. Any team that has made it to the semi-finals as a chance of proceeding to the final stage of the tournament.

 

“We came to this tournament knowing at some stage that we would meet one of the power houses of women’s football on the continent. If you have to be the best, you have to play the best. We are here to make a statement.” said Banyana Banyana head coach, Joseph Mkhonza.

 

Banyana Banyana captain, Amanda Dlamini has said making it this far in the tournament would mean facing some of the strongest teams on the continent but feels they are up for that challenge and make it as far in the competition.

 

“Coming into this tournament we knew if we wanted to compete in the semi-finals, we are bound to meet the African power houses of Women’s football. Now that we’ve made it this far in the tournament, we want to play our own game taking into fact that we will face tough opposition being amongst the top four.” said Dlamini.

 

The national coach should also be complimented for sticking with his attacking 3 (defenders), 5 (midfielders), 2 (strikers) formation, which allowed the captain Dlamini, the experienced Portia Modise, and young midfield sensation Refiloe Jane, to dominate the centre of the park.

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Bafana Bafana coaches to travel to England for talks with club managers

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By Obakeng Maje

Bafana Bafana head coach Gordon Igesund and his assistant Serame Letsoaka will on Monday, 5 November 2012 travel to England to visit South African players based in that country.

 

The two will leave soon after announcing the squad that will play reigning African champions Zambia on 14 November 2012 at FNB Stadium in what promises to be an explosive affair. They are expected to return home the following Saturday, 10 November.

 

During their visit, they will hold several meetings with managers of the likes of Kagisho Dikgacoi of Crystal Palace, Dean Furman of Oldham Athletic and several other players.

 

The main reason for this journey is to create a good working relationship with overseas-based players and their clubs considering that after the Zambia game, there won’t be FIFA dates leading up to the AFCON tournament.

 

“According to FIFA rules, the players can only report for national duty 14 days before the start of the AFCON tournament; in this case will be the 5th of January,” said Bafana coach Igesund.

 

“Our main aim in England will be to try and get the players released early from their clubs so they can join us at least 21 days before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament. That means we would like to assemble the team around the Christmas festive period. This would be the perfect time to mould them into a unit because the past four matches have been mainly to look at different players and combinations,” said Igesund.

 

“We are playing a very important tournament for the country, and it is for this reason that we have to engage the managers to see if those players that we would have selected can’t be available when we start our camp. South Africa will reciprocate by not calling up some of those players when their clubs have important fixtures in future. If we can get 60 percent of them on time, that will be an achievement. I believe with communication, sincerity and support we can make this happen.”

 

Also on the radar of the same trip to England is the Andrew Surman of Norwich City issue.

 

“I believe it is my responsibility to go and see him, find out from him whether he still wants to play for South Africa. I am not going there to beg him to play for us because if he is not interested then he won’t deliver.

 

I am also aware that he was approached before to represent Bafana Bafana but it just never happened, so we need to get to the bottom of this so we can move on. He is a very good player who has played for England at junior level, so it would be great to have him on board,” added Igesund.

 

Time and programme permitting, Igesund and Letsoaka will also meet up with former Bafana Bafana captain Steven Pienaar, who has retired from international football.

 

After the clash against Zambia, the coaches also intend travelling to Greece, Belgium and Holland to meet the managers of the South African players based there to make the same request.

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