Palace Super Falcons Retain Sasol League Championship Title
Mokoma - recently omitted from the Banyana Banyana squad which will travel to Harare, Zimbabwe this week for the Confederation of Southern African (COSAFA) Championships which start on July 2 – gave the national coaches food for thought as she collected the tournament’s top goal-scorer award, tallying 11 goals.
The Gauteng-based Palace Super Falcons were 3-0 at half-time thanks to a hat-trick scored by Mokoma, nicknamed ‘Gautrain’ because of her speed. The other two goals for Super Falcons were scored by Lindiwe Motau.
“It’s been a tough Sasol League season, but the fact that Palace Super Falcons could take on the best teams in SA and score 31 goals in six matches without conceding a single goal, is indicative of our players’ commitment and dedication shown over the past season,” said Palace Super Falcons coach Jabu Mabaso, who was also named as the ‘Coach of the Tournament’.
The Palace Super Falcons coach did his homework in finding a game plan to shut out Brazilian Ladies’ attacking Noko ‘Beep Beep’ Matlou.
Detroit Ladies, winners of the 2009 inaugural Sasol League and runners up to Palace Super Falcons in last year’s tournament played in Polokwane, claimed the bronze medal in beating Cape Town Roses 3-2 in the playoff for third place.
Cape Town Roses’ Sisipho Ntulo was named as the ‘Goalkeeper of the Tournament’, with Bloemfontein Celtics midfield star Sanah Mollo being voted as the ‘Queen’s Queen of the Tournament’ (Players’ Player of the Tournament).
The most promising player of the tournament award, known as the ‘Young Queen of the Tournament’ went the way of Coastal United’s Asive Mqwala.
Palace Super Falcons’ midfielder Tina Selepe walked away with the Diski Queen of the Tournament award.
Martha on form again
Mokoma had not scored for the national team this year but netted four against Royal Wizards, a hat-trick against Detroit Ladies and one against Bloemfontein Celtic for her club.
"Based on my current good form I am confident of being recalled into team for the 2012 London Olympics qualifiers against Ethiopia and the All Africa-Games," said Mokoma.
"I am happy that after the good performance at the championships coach Joseph Mkhonza congratulated me. I will work hard to ensure that I maintain my form to enhance chances of being recalled to Banyana,"' added Mokoma.
Mokoma was expected to lead Falcons striking force in the championships final against Limpopo-based Noko "Beep Beep" Matlou-led Brazilians Ladies at Seisa Ramabodu Stadium yesterday.
by MATOME LEBEA IN BLOEMFONTEIN
ZAMBIA
WOMEN QUEST FOR REGIONAL GLORY STARTS WITH CLASH AGAINST SA
The Zambia National Women Team’s quest to win their first ever southern African championship and position themselves as one of the regional heavyweights gets underway in Harare early next month when they face perennial rivals and defending champions South Africa in the opening game of the 2011 Cosafa Women’s Championship.
The Zambian ladies squad has over the last three years produced unprecedented results which saw the team qualify to the first knock out round of the 2012 Olympic qualifiers after beating Botswana over two legs. Early this year, the Zambians narrowly lost to South Africa to lose out on the 2011 All Africa Games. Despite ejection from both tournaments, the Zambian ladies made their statement clear – they are in the running to claim a place among the top teams in the region and Africa and will welcome any challenge at any level.
The Football Association of Zambia has since welcomed the draw indicating that it was a good challenge for the team. Said FAZ Communications Manager Erick Mwanza: “The group is tough; probably the tournament’s group of death. But it is such challenges that inspire players to do even better. We welcome the draw and look forward to the games and tournament. As is the stated policy of the Football Association of Zambia, we will prepare the team adequately.
As a matter of fact, the team is already in residential camp with everything at their disposal so that they can prepare in an excellent environment and atmosphere. Preparations will continue with intensity to the end of this week when the team travels to Harare. It has not been easy to prepare during this period of national mourning because we’re all mourning former Republican President Dr FJT Chiluba.
Kits particularly tough for the team because the late second president’s daughter is one of the star players of the Zambia women’s team and will not be available for the championship in Zimbabwe.”
“But her colleagues mourn with her as they prepare behind closed doors so that we can honour the late President. We will be ready and ready to challenge for the championship.”
After the Group B and tournament opening game, the Zambians will then take on guest team Tanzania before concluding their group fixtures against the Botswana.
The tournament will be played at two venues, the Rufaro Stadium and the Gwanzura Stadium, the opening game between defending champions South Africa and Zambia at Rufaro on July 2 (kick-off 13h00).
Hosts Zimbabwe will play their opening fixture against Lesotho (15h15) at the same venue straight afterwards, while across town Mozambique will play Malawi (13h00) at Gwanzura.
Each country will play one another in a round-robin format, with the top two sides in each pool advancing to the semi-finals. The winners in the knockout stages will compete in the Final for the trophy, while the losers will play for bronze in a third-place play-off.
The semifinals will be played on July 7 at the Rufaro Stadium, while the third-place play-off and the final will be on July 9 at the same venue.
The 2011 event will be the fourth time the COSAFA Women’s Championship has been staged.
The first was held in Zimbabwe in 2002 and was won by South Africa, who beat their hosts 2-1 in the final. Four years later and the South Africans triumphed again at the finals in Zambia, when they beat Namibia 3-1 in the decider. South Africa made it three in a row when they beat Zimbabwe in the finals of the 2008 tournament in Malange, Angola.
NAMIBIA
Namibia Gals On Tour In Germany
The Namibia Football Association women select team departed for Germany on June 18 for their Germany- tour.
According to national team coach Jacqueline Shipanga, the trip is an opportunity for the youngsters to showcase their potential to possible scouts from various clubs abroad - these players include the likes of Kleintjie Fredericks, Juliana Skrywer, Shirley Cloete and Tomalina Adams and others.
She added that they also want to use the opportunity to already expose the majority of the U20 players to competitive football and thus prepare them adequately for the 2012 Zone VI Games in Zambia. The team will be captained by 20 year old Stacey Naris, a former scholar from Eldorado High School.
NFA women Desk Head Jackey Gertze who is invited to attend a three-day FIFA Women's Football symposium in Frankfurt and participate in panel discussions as well as deliver a presentation on the successful Galz & Goals programme in Namibia, leaves for Germany with NFA Secretary General Barry Rukoro. they depart on July 13 with the Symposium set for 15-17 July.
Gertze said the team comprises of seven under-17 players, seven under-20 players and six senior players and will be playing three friendly matches and watch two FIFA World Cup matches courtesy of the German Football Federation.
Shipanga will not be part of team since she will be working at the FIFA Women's Football World Cup in Germany as technical study member (TSG), leaving the team in the capable hands of Natasha Cloete as team manager, Klaus Staerk, the NFA technical director and Karl-Heinz Griesshaber a technical expert from Germany and they returns back home from 3 July.
The players are: Emma Naris, Lovisa Mulunga, Lena Noroses, Albertha Dawes, Vitapamwe Kamahene, Carmel Don, Zenatha Coleman, Kleintjie Fredericks, Juliana Skrywer, Shirley Cloete, Tomalina Adams, Stacey Naris, Marele Polster, Ndapewa Katuta, Susanna Eises, Monique Khrone, Elmarie Fredericks, Rejoice Kasaona and Vewewiza Kotjipati.
ZIMBABWE
Inline Academy draws with New Orleans
Inline Academy coach Shadreck Mlauzi says there is need for female football players to exercise extreme caution as crude tackles can be career threatening after witnessing his side draw 1-1 against New Orleans in the National Women’s Super League at Raylton Sports Club on Saturday.
New Orleans were the first to score through Sicelo Dube while Inline Academy got the crucial equaliser through a Judith Lunga strike.
Mlauzi said he was happy with the result as the match was a tight contest.
“The game was too physical and tough. There were some dirty tackles and I feel that the rivalry is too extreme. It is dangerous because that can result in players getting serious and career threatening injuries,” he said.
Mlauzi said he is happy with the result although the strikers could have done better.
“The match lived up to its billing as it was a derby. We created more chances, but our strikers’ finishing was not up to standard as we wasted clearcut chances,” he said.
New Orleans coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda said: “The game had too much tension because the rivalries wanted to prove a point. I was impressed with the teams’ performance though.”
Both teams have not lost a match as Inline Academy beat Flame Lily 2-1 in their first match while New Orleans demolished COSA Guruve 5-0 playing away from home.
ZIMBABWE
Inline Academy draws with New Orleans
Inline Academy coach Shadreck Mlauzi says there is need for female football players to exercise extreme caution as crude tackles can be career threatening after witnessing his side draw 1-1 against New Orleans in the National Women’s Super League at Raylton Sports Club on Saturday.
New Orleans were the first to score through Sicelo Dube while Inline Academy got the crucial equaliser through a Judith Lunga strike.
Mlauzi said he was happy with the result as the match was a tight contest.
“The game was too physical and tough. There were some dirty tackles and I feel that the rivalry is too extreme. It is dangerous because that can result in players getting serious and career threatening injuries,” he said.
Mlauzi said he is happy with the result although the strikers could have done better.
“The match lived up to its billing as it was a derby. We created more chances, but our strikers’ finishing was not up to standard as we wasted clearcut chances,” he said.
New Orleans coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda said: “The game had too much tension because the rivalries wanted to prove a point. I was impressed with the teams’ performance though.”
Both teams have not lost a match as Inline Academy beat Flame Lily 2-1 in their first match while New Orleans demolished COSA Guruve 5-0 playing away from home.
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