Bantwana, Banyana both win
Bantwana, Banyana both win
Posted: 2010-05-16 14:37
The South African national Under 17 team Bantwana have increased their chances of qualifying for the Fifa Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago after beating Tunisia 1-0 in a hard fought match at the Huntersfield Stadium in Katlehong, Johannesburg, yesterday (Saturday). <br />
Bantwana’s goal came in the 88th minute when Alice Khosa managed to beat Tunisia’s offside trap and calmly side-footed the ball past Tunisia’s goalkeeper Ben Sassi Mariem and send the home crowd into wild celebrations.
Coach Solly Luvhengo says he is satisfied with the result but was not impressed by the way the team started the match.
“This was a very close one for us and we had to fight hard for this win, we didn’t start the match well enough; I don’t think the first half was a good showing on our side but we managed to come back strongly in the second half of the match and dominated throughout.
“Tunisia came here to defend and not concede a goal as they spent most of the time on the ground trying to kill our momentum. Having said that I don’t think we played the ball enough,” said Luvhengo.
Luvhengo added by saying that the technical team knows what is required going forward and what to expect.
“We know now where to rectify and how to go about doing that, when we go to Tunisia in the return leg they will be forced to open up and play which will allow us to play the ball and I’m very confident that we will score a goal or two in their own backyard,” he added.
The senior women’s national team Banyana Banyana, who also played in the double header in Katlehong, defeated Namibia 4-1 in an international friendly.
Banyana opened the scoring as early as the 9th minute thorough Noko Matlou, five minutes later Sana Mollo made it two-nil, Mampasha Pompela gave South Africa an unassailable lead in the 29th minute with Leandra Smeda scoring the 4th goal in the 81st minute.
Namibia pulled one back in the 84 through Veweziwa Kitjipati to make the final score 4-1.
Banyana coach Augustine Makalakalane said the match was a good way for the technical team to assess the fitness levels and measure the experience the players got in Cyprus.
“I’m obviously thrilled with the result of the match; we managed to score different types of goals with different players from different types of situations and combinations. I am happy with the defense’s cohesion with the midfield and the strikers. We were using this match to measure the player’s fitness levels and experience after returning from Cyprus.”
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