Menzi Magubane
Let us take this opportunity to congratulate the Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies for reaching an historical CAF Women’s Champions League final.
Win or lose in the final on Friday in Cairo in Egypt, South Africa is already extremely proud of them.
On Monday Banyana Ba Style got social media buzzing after they beat Malabo Kings of Equatorial Guinea 5-4 on penalties in a goalless semi-final.
This is the first time they are playing in this tournament.
To win the final on Friday against Hasaacas Ladies from Ghana would be the cherry on top of an already impressive achievement.
Beating a team from Ghana could somehow be a consolation to the people of South Africa after what happened to Bafana Bafana on Sunday.
Though they probably want to win the cup for everyone at home, the important thing for them would be to emulate the men’s team who won the Champions League Trophy in 2016 in their first final.
Banyana Ba Style have already lifted the Cosafa Women’s Champions League trophy, which saw them qualify for the CAF Champions League. In Egypt, they were placed in Group B where they beat both Kenya’s Vihiga Queens and Rivers Angels from Nigeria in their opening two games, winning both matches 1-0.
They drew the last one 0-0 against Morocco’s ASFAR to finish top of the group. The tournament has two groups with four teams progressing to the semi-finals.
The convincing statistic about Downs in these games is that they are yet to concede a single goal. The more worrying statistic, which will no doubt be on coach Jerry Tshabalala’s mind ahead of Friday’s final, is that they have netted only two goals in four matches.
Before going to Egypt, Downs left their domestic league run in good shape and they are as good as champions again.
They are on top of the log with 61 points after 22 matches, while TUT FC in second have 49 points with the same number of games. Four matches remain before the league ends.
Image source: @MamelodiSundownsLadies
Video source: @CAFWomen
