News From The African Women's Soccer World

SOUTH AFRICA

Banyana Captain, Amanda Dlamini

For Banyana Banyana coach Joseph Mkhonza, qualifying for the All Africa Games is just as important as the ongoing challenge to reach the Olympic Games for the first time.

In fact, Banyana have to only get rid of Botswana over a two-legged qualifying process to ensure their presence in Maputo in September. They meet their neighbours at home on Saturday, a task Mkhonza believes will be suicidal if not treated with the utmost respect.
“I think we have to first establish how good we are on the continent and say we are conquerors at home before thinking we have what it takes to take on the best of what Europe and the Americas have to offer,” Mkhonza said.

Mkhonza insists that as important as London 2012 is, Maputo 2011 is even more crucial. He is just as determined not to dismiss Botswana as lightweights, even though they are ranked 126th in the world by Fifa, while South Africa is 58th and No 3 in Africa.
“We have to give Botswana the respect they deserve, as women’s football has quite improved in the southern region. There is no weak team anymore and past results and reputations mean nothing. They pose as much of a risk to us as anyone,” he said.

Mkhonza is impressed with his team following their triumph in Tunis two weeks ago.
“I was amazed at how strong mentally this team is. That was the only thing we had going for us. In any case, when you travel to some of these countries, you do not expect to be treated fairly by officials,” he said.
Mkhonza’s team goes into camp today, with four new faces who will replace Yola Jafta, Mamello Makhabane, Nocawe Skiti and Thoko Mndaweni who all are carrying injuries from Tunisia.
Captain Amanda Dlamini who had also been injured made a full recovery. The rest of the team was due to be announced late yesterday afternoon. Safa was yesterday due to announce the venue, which will either be Tembisa’s Makhulong stadium or Polokwane.






AN EAST Riding teenager is returning to South Africa after helping to kick-start girls' football in the townships.
Emily Sheriff's dream of returning to the country is about to come true after she was selected to join a charity football project in Cape Town.
The sports student from Hessle is raising funds towards September's three-month trip to South Africa, where she will help lead football coaching courses.

Emily Sheriff

Emily, 18, will team up with the charity Coaching For Hope, which uses football to create better futures for young people in South Africa.
She said: "It's something I've wanted to do since I came back from the ten-day trip I did last year.
"The young people in the townships have minimal equipment, but they just appreciate things more.
"I just knew I wanted to go back and do more."
Coaching For Hope taps into the global passion for football and organises coaching courses to train youth workers in the townships.




Ghana Women's Football Mourns Patricia Ofori

Patricia Ofori with Former president of Ghana J.A Kuffour

Ghana women's football has been thrown into a state of shock and mourning following the death of former international star, Patricia Ofori, who was killed in a car accident in the United States on Wednesday April 20th.

Pat Ofori, 29, was killed in the car accident in Huntsville on her way to school as she was pursuing a Masters programme.The body will be flown home for burial.




ALL AFRICA GAMES QUALIFIER-Super Falcons vs Black Princesses

The national women's team of Nigeria, Super Falcons,will take on arch rival, Black Princesses of Ghana in an All-Africa Games first leg qualifier in Abuja on Sunday.The second leg will take place in Ghana in 2 weeks.The Ghanaians hope to banish the ghost of current disappointing results chalked by various Ghanaian national teams by coming back home with a favorable result against Nigeria.Nigeria are the All Africa games defending champions.






KENYA

“Sisters in football, women in leadership”, was the theme of the Mathare Youth girls’ soccer tournament which attracted a total of 91 teams and over 1,500 players in four different age categories U12, U14, U16 and Over 16. The girl’s tournament, which is now the prime girl’s tournament in Kenya, was born after MYSA originated a successful girl’s football project in 1992 as a way of involving girls in sports and community development activities.MOYAS, a team from the Ministry of Youth and Sports managed to send Mathare united ladies FC packing in a hotly contested semi final match that would have passed for a final if the level of skill execution was anything to go by.MOYAS were not done yet and in the final match against Otto Benekker FC, Agnes Wamere who was also the player of the tournament curled a sweet ball outside the 18 area after Mildred Cheche was brought down by Otto’s’ Defender, the ball resulted in a goal just after 3 minutes into play. MOYAS later made a series of attacks which were fruitless in the first half and in the second half; Otto was the better side with most of the attacks but could not score. Final results MOYAS 1- Otto Otto was the better side with most of the attacks but could not score. Final results MOYAS 1- Otto Benneker 0.

TUNISIA

Tunisian women's football team participated in the Menton International Tournament, organised by France's Etoile du Menton Club in France.

also participating in the tournament are  Elans de Garneau (Canada), ACF Aurora Bergamo (Italy), Dinamo Maksimir  (Croatia), Arbejder Sport Aarhus (Denmark), Oviedo Moderno (Spain), ZNK Rijeka (Croatia), Ekomet 90 (Bulgaria), CF Sudtirol (Italy) and Etoile de Menton (France).