15 July 2018 – Bantwana coach Simphiwe Dludlu is a difficult person to satisfy.

After watching her swashbuckling team demolish a visiting USA Select side Goal For Girls 8-2 with a dazzling performance, Dludlu said there were still areas which she thinks her players can improve on, underscoring how thorough she is.

The South African u17 Women’s National Team are in camp preparing for the BRICS tournament which kicks off on Wednesday, 18 July 2018 at Wits Rugby Grounds when Bantwana take on India at 16h30.

And instead of lavishing her players with all the accolades, the shrewd mentor said there were some areas which the girls still needed to polish on as they look at the bigger FIFA World Cup tournament later this year in Uruguay.

“I think I am happy with few elements in the game, obviously the scoring of goals was good and we created better chances and more than anything the team is coming together. We are playing as a team, defending better and the transition is getting better as well but it is not as sharp as I would want it to be but I think in the coming few days I will be able to look at the footage and rectify few areas because I would also not like to be fixing too many things.

“I will take specific things that I know will help their game to become better so that we are ready for the tournament. But so far I am happy with the level of progression they are showing,” said Dludlu.

The Bantwana coach said what impressed her most was the way most of the goals were created which she said was a result of teamwork and great combinations between the players.
“I saw players in different positions applying themselves, so that was good for me and I also love that it was not one player that is left to score goals but the wingers coming into scoring positions as well.”

She said the girls maintained their discipline despite the huge winning margin in which they preserved the structure and played to instructions throughout the game.
Dludlu said she wanted the girls to build on the confidence going into BRICS tournament and after as the main goal was working towards building a formidable squad ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

She said she would emphasise to the team to apply different formations since she had a huge squad.

“I have a big squad and would want to see which combinations work together, which ones can be surprise combinations but I think for the BRICS tournament we should be ready to go because we need to do well and (bag) win a medal,” she concluded.

In a match played at UJ Grounds in Auckland Park, Thambolinye Mzonele, Karabo Dlamini and Thubelihle Shamase each scored a brace while Sphumelele Shamase and Surprise Mphagalale netted a goal each.