Pro Philani looks back at what was a memorable weekend on the Mzansi football front as Sundowns Ladies qualified for the CAF Champions League, TUT climbed within touching distance of the Hollywoodbets Super League summit and Bafana battled to 0-0 draw against Zimbabwe.
Women's Football
The Sky’s the Limit for Sundowns Ladies
We kick off this week with congratulatory messages to Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies who became the first-ever champions of the COSAFA clubs region and thus qualified for the CAF Women Champions League.
Sundowns bagged a staggering 22 goals and conceded 1. They had two different hat-trick scorers in the tournament, after 5 games. While it looked easy, the Choorklop club did face challenges. They had just one goalkeeper for this tournament. Banyana star Andile Dlamini was ruled out of the tournament through injury while Rhoda Mulaudzi could not finish the tournament as she picked up an injury in the first match of the group stages.
Sundowns, confident of the quality of the squad, with plenty of Banyana stars did not look worried at all. Their pressing game was too much for their opposition to handle with most of their goals a direct result of their high press.
The club also honoured their longest-serving player, Agnes Nkosi, with the head coach position for this tournament. Regular coach Jerry Tshabalala watched from the stands with contentment alongside club chairman Tlhopane Motsepe and CAF President, Patrice Motsepe.
Congratulations once again!
— Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Team (@SundownsLadies) September 4, 2021
A massive thank you to each and everyone of YOU.
Together, we made it. #CWCL Qualifiers! pic.twitter.com/mF9ev73GfA
TUT Ladies close the gap on Sundowns in the Hollywoodbets Super League
In the Hollywoodbets Super League, TUT closed the gap between themselves and Mamelodi Sundowns to just 1 point after beating Bloemfontein Celtic 3-1 courtesy of goals from Njabulo Sangweni, Mary Ntsweng, and Saline Kekana. Sundowns Ladies still hold all of the aces in the title race with three games in hand, however.
JVW ensured Golden Ladies remain unmoved at the bottom with a 1-0 win. Gabriela Salgado’s 84th-minute strike was the 9th goal of the season for the number 9. These 3 points keep JVW third on the log.
The Limpopo derby at the Thohoyandou Stadium had all the flair, the goals, the twins, and the funny hairstyles, as Ma-Indies played into a 2-all entertaining draw against First Touch on Sunday afternoon.
With Sundowns Ladies now set to return to domestic action, it’ll be interesting to see how they deal with their games in hand.
Good luck Desiree Ellis and the Banyana team as they jet out to play an international tournament in Nigeria.
A sizzling hot day in Giyani produced a 2 all draw in the #LimpopoDerby @MaindiesF 2-2 @Dikgoshigadi1
— Hollywoodbets Super League (@HollywoodbetsSA) September 5, 2021
⚽️Molepo Rapatsa 9' ⚽️Xiluva Tshabalala 57'
⚽️⚽️Jeanet Fisher (brace) 4'; 13' pic.twitter.com/FNoNCmRMe5
Men's Football
Bafana earn away point in Zimbabwe
We were without any DStv Premiership and GladAfrica Championship action this weekend with the international break taking centre stage.
Our pride and joy, Bafana Bafana, went to Zimbabwe to face an old foe. A game of familiar characters and faces reuniting on the other side of the border could’ve meant both technical teams had little to no homework to do.
Zimbabwe, with more overseas-based players struggled to assert themselves against Bafana. The ‘faulty Maserati’ as Khama Billiat is called these days could not turn on the magic that once made him the most feared winger on the continent.
Bafana coach, Hugo Broos looked so impressed with his charges who looked comfortable in dealing with the attacking threat of the Warriors. Perhaps, such bravery from the boys should be followed by three points in the future.
Statistically, Mothobi Mvala scored the highest ratings of any Bafana player on the day. The performance of the Sundowns midfielder who was partnered in midfield by SA u/23 Olympics star Teboho Mokoena who both shone in an otherwise forgettable encounter.
There was no magic from either the magic feet of Percy Tau nor the pace of Gift Links or even the precision of Luther. It was. One of those games at the end.
Unfortuantely for Bafana, the magic feet of Percy Tau, the pace of Gift Links and the precision of Luther Singh weren’t showcased as South Africa struggled at the top end of the pitch.
The team have arrived at the National Stadium for the @FIFAcom #WorldCupQualifier against neighbours Zimbabwe #BafanaPride pic.twitter.com/q5JcmS6Gug
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) September 3, 2021
