03 October 2018–A wide smile on Mpumalanga coach’s face, Lindeni Shabangu, when she was asked about her side’s masterclass performance in their 7-0 win over the Northern Cape on day two of this year’s SAFA U-19 Women’s Regional League Championship told the whole story.
That result meant coach Shabangu’s side had just produced a two-out-of-two performance to increase their chances of progressing into this year’s semi-finals set to take place at the Nike Football Training Centre in Pimville, Soweto on 5 October 2018.
That smile though, could only last for a brief moment. And that is mainly because Shabangu knows that her charges needs to avoid any possible defensive errors in their final Group B match against KwaZulu-Natal, as failure to do so, might see them fall short of reaching this year’s knockout stages.
In order to make into the final four, Mpumalanga must avoid a defeat of 6-0 against KwaZulu-Natal. A draw or a win in that upcoming match will see them through to the semis.
Day 2 Results – Tuesday 02 October 2018
Match 6: Free State 0, Western Cape 6
Match 7: Eastern Cape 2, KwaZulu-Natal 1
Match 8: Gauteng 3, Limpopo 1
Match 9: Mpumalanga 7 Northern Cape 0
Match 10: Western Cape 2, North West 0
Upcoming matches: Day 3, Wednesday 03 October 2018
Match 11: Free State vs. Limpopo, 10h00, Field B
Match 12: Gauteng vs. North West, 10h00, Field A
Match 13: Northern Cape vs. Eastern Cape, 11h30, Field B
Match 14: KwaZulu-Natal vs. Mpumalanga, 11h30, Field A
Match 15: Gauteng vs. Free State, 15h00, Field B
Match 16: Western Cape vs. Limpopo, 15h00, Field A