 Banyana Banyana’s African Player of the Year’ Noko Matlou scored her 35th goal in 41 outings for her country as Augustine Makalakalane’s charges thrashed Zimbabwe 4-0 in Tembisa today.
The international friendly was the perfect send-off for the Sasol-sponsored queens of diski, as they look to finish among the top two sides at the CAF African Women Championship 2010 which will take place in Ekurhuleni, near Johannesburg from October 31 to November 14. Africa’s top two countries will compete at the 2011 FIFA women’s World Cup in Germany next June.
Matlou’s right-footed strike from 25 metres out took a bullet-like route to the back of the goal net past Zimbabwean goalkeeper Chido P Dzingirai in injury time at the end of the first half. Second half strikes by substitutes Mamphasha Popela and Amanda Dlamini, ended the match as a contest in favour of the hosts.
But another second half ‘super sub’; 17-year-old Jermaine Seoposenwe will remember her Banyana Banyana debut for the rest of her football career. The Cape Town-based midfielder who plays her football for Santos FC in the Sasol League in the Western Cape, produce a well-timed run on the right side of the pitch, before scoring from a tight angle past Dzingirai.
Seoposenwe looked calm and confident out on the pitch at the highest level, showing maturity well beyond her age and the age group international football she is accustomed to having represented the Bantwana national side at the FIFA girls under 17 World Cup held in Trinidad and Tobago in the in September 2010.
Banyana Banyana coach Augustine Makalakalane had every reason to feel confident of a good showing at the African showpiece tournament, following his side’s good afternoon out in Tembisa.
“After 25 minutes of play in the second half, our goals came at the right time as this is usually when players tire and slow down,” said Makalakalane.
“The hard work put in by the national players and the technical staff at the training camps over the past two months is paying off and the spirit in the camp is high ahead of our participation in the CAF African Women Championship 2010.”
Banyana Banyana will play their Group A matches at the Sinaba stadium against Tanzania (October 31, 13h00), Nigeria (November 4, 11h00) and Mali (November 7, 15h30).
The semi-finals are scheduled for the Sinaba stadium on November 11 at 10h30 and 15h30 respectively.
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