By Reginald Kanyane
The South African u20 Women’s National Team, Basetsana, lost 1-0 to their counterparts from Nigeria (3-1 on aggregate) and missed out on the u20 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Papua New Guinea 2016.

The second leg of the third and final round match took place on Sunday, at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa. A goal early in the first half by Veronica Chinwendu Ihezuo was enough to hand the Super Falconets a berth in the World Cup.

Despite a crucial away goal in Abuja two weeks ago, South Africa was always playing catch up, as they had to turn the 2-1 result from the first leg. But it was the visitors who started strongly putting the home side under pressure. After Nigeria’s goal, Basetsana came back strongly into the match and were unfortunate not to equalise on the half hour mark.

Striker, Linda Motlhalo broke free but Sandra Chiichii was equal to the task in the Nigeria goal. In the second half South Africa piled on the pressure and saw their goal-bound shot stopped off the line in the 49th minute.

Two minutes later the Falconets came very close to increasing their lead but Uchenna Grace Kanu shot wide with only goalkeeper Mapaseka Mpuru to beat.Thembi Kgatlana, who missed the first leg, came face to face with Chiichii but rushed her shot in the 55th minute, which could have given the hosts a glimmer of hope.

With the clock ticking away, South Africa pushed forward but no goal came.

The last clear chance for Basetsana was in the 75th minute when Kgatlana shot straight into Chiichii’s arms. No matter how hard the home side tried, Nigeria stood firm and gave nothing away.

In the end, it was tears for Basetsana players, as they knew how close they were to clinching a spot in their first ever World Cup tournament. It ended Nigeria 1 and South Africa 0 – the Falconets winning 3-1 on aggregate.

The FIFA u20 Women’s World Cup will take place next year in Papua New Guinea from 28 October to 16 November. 

This is how they lined up: South Africa u20:Mapaseka Mpuru (GK), Lelona Daweti, Tiisetso Makhubela, Caryn van Reyneveldt, Linda Motlhalo, Thembi Kgatlana, Amogelang Motau (c), Gabriela Salgado, Drishana Pillay, Bongeka Gamede, Thalea SmidtSubs:Sinenhlanhla Shozi, Mosili Makhoali, Zimasa Dekeda, Regirl Ngobeni (GK), Nomathamsanqa Sikweza, Puleng Moremi, Jamie-Lee WitbooiNigeria u20:Chiichii (GK) (C), Ogbonna, Ukwuoma, Eminayo, Oluwatosin, Ihezuo, Kanu, Bokiri, Ologbosere, Kalu, OnyembuchiSubs:Famuditi, Elijah, Igbinovia, Uchendu, Biahwo, Ohiaeriku, YakubuMatch Officials:REFEREE:                BOLOKANG LEKGOWE                          BOTSWANA ASS. REF 1:              BOTSALO MOSIMANEWATLALA         BOTSWANAASS. REF 2:              TSHEPISO RAMOTHOGOBENG            BOTSWANA 4TH OFFICIAL: PEARL MOREMI                                       BOTSWANA COMMISSIONER:  JACQUELINE GERTZE                             NAMIBIA
-TDN
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BY REGINALD KANYANE

THE ANC in the North West was quick to jump into president Jacob Zuma’s defence after his utterance on Sunday. Zuma said the ANC comes first before the country, and that caused an uproar amongst the section of political fratenity.

However ANC provincial secretary in North West, Dakota Legoete said: “President Jacob Zuma does not owe anyone any explanation. He owes no one including the DA an apology for saying that the ANC comes first to him as it’s member and president. Zuma is correct that democracy and it’s institutions are a product of struggle waged by the people led by the ANC . Such struggle came first and the organisation that waged and continues to pursue the National Democratic Revolution (NDR) cokes first.

“The reality affecting minority parties is that they always fight for national recognition. They think that by mere mentioning the name ANC or president Zuma would be a cheaper way of getting politically recognition as both ANC and Zuma are in international platform. They should actually work hard to  convince the majority to give them political recognition,” Legoete said.

-TDN

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Two people were killed and at least 30 children injured Thursday morning after a bus and bakkie collided head-on in Northern Cape, ER24 paramedics said.

ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring said the accident occurred on the Edendale Gravel Road near Kuruman.

Meiring said the bus and the wrecked bakkie, were found lying in the middle of the road, and children who were inside the bus were walking around the scene.

On assessment, paramedics found three occupants lying trapped inside the bakkie, Meiring said.

“The driver laid in a critical condition, while the two occupants, a male and female, had already succumbed to their multiple, fatal injuries,” he said.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

A task team has been established to investigate the murder of a policeman shot and killed in Bapong near Brits, North West acting provincial commissioner Major General Jacob Tsumane said on Thursday.

“I have established a team lead by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), to probe this case. The team will not rest until those who are responsible are brought to book,” he said during his visit to the family of Constable Johannes Mokotedi.

The 36-year-old Mokotedi was gunned down when armed gunmen fired at him at the YaRona mall on Wednesday afternoon. The group had just robbed a clothing shop in the mall before they saw Mokotedi in a marked police van with some of his colleagues.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

Rustenburg – Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in North West are due to stage a protest at the Swartruggens toll gate on Friday, provincial secretary Solly Phetoe said.

“This action is necessitated by the fact that both the provincial and the national governments had agreed to the reduction of the toll fees, and they had set a deadline of the end of October 2015, but so far nothing has happened,” he said.

“Whilst, we appreciate the action done by the department [of transport], to make sure that the discounts are extended to all local users, including the extension of the radius for the discount, the department has still not responded to four major demands we had made in the past.”

He said Cosatu demanded that the toll fee for light vehicles be reduced to R58, from R75, which he said government had agreed to but failed to implement.

The union federation also demanded that an alternative road be constructed for those who could not afford the toll gate fee.

The protest was expected to start at 2pm.

African News Agency

The crates of Chateau Brehat wine from Bordeaux had gathered dust for three years in a bonded warehouse on the outskirts of Shanghai before the owners cut their losses in July, slashing three-quarters off the $50 price tag.

The fire sale was prompted by a huge oversupply of wine that had built up after a swarm of importers jumped at seemingly stellar growth from 2010. China wine consumption – which had been rising in double digits – dropped last year and is set to inch up just over 1 percent annually until 2020.

The striking slowdown is a headache for a global wine industry pinning hopes on fast China growth, and a further sign that Chinese consumers are reining in spending even as Beijing hopes they will pick up the slack from falling exports.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

NORTHERN Cape police need your assistance in locating the parents of a missing boy. Provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Sergio Kock said: “Police found the boy aged between 15 and 18 at Ackermans in Chapel Street, in Kimberley. The boy cannot speak, write nor hear. He is dressed in a light blue denim shirt, red pants, blue takkies and a black cap. He has an old burn mark on his right ear and a healed mark of operation on his right hand.”

Kock said the boy is around 1.6m tall, slender built and has a short hair. He added that anyone who could know the boy or his parents can call Kimberley Police Station on 053 838 4331 or alternatively call 10 111.

-TDN

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