Alex’s Bluebirds Ladies knocked out of Engen tournament

The sheer brilliance of Bluebirds forward Tshiamo Segwatle secures her side’s quarterfinal berth against a ruthless Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.

July 10, 2023

Sipho Siso 1 minute read

A tussle for the ball between a Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies player (yellow) and her Bluebirds Ladies counterpart during the Engen tournament. Photo: Sipho Siso

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies’ U20 side came from a goal down in the first half to knock a determined Bluebirds Ladies out of the Engen Knockout Challenge tournament.

Soon after she unleashes her shot, Downs's number 11 watches it sail past the keeper into the back of the net before dashing to celebrate. Photo: Sipho Siso — Soon after she unleashes her shot, Downs’s number 11 watches it sail past the keeper into the back of the net before dashing to celebrate. Photo: Sipho Siso

The Beautiful Birds of Alexandra, as they are fondly known in the oldest township in the country, led the mighty Downs for the entire first half after a goal from the boot of Tshiamo Segwatle early in the match.

However, the Masandawana ladies eventually prevailed 3–1 in a match that could have quickly gone either way played at the Wits Marks Park Stadium in Emmarentia on July 8.

Birds' Pearl Khumalo mesmerises her Kempton Park Ladies counterparts with her ball skills. Photo: Sipho Siso — Birds’ Pearl Khumalo mesmerises her Kempton Park Ladies counterparts with her ball skills. Photo: Sipho Siso

Soon after the resumption of the second stanza, Masandawana was awarded a penalty following a foul on one of their forwards and the team in its traditional yellow and blue made no mistake in equalising.

Masandawana quickly added two more goals to secure a semi-final berth in the tournament and relegated the Beautiful Birds to the positional play-offs. The Birds can hold their heads high to have managed to lead one of the tournament favourites for 30 minutes of play in the first half.

A Birds player tries to unsettle an advancing Downs forward during their quarterfinal game at the Engen tournament. Photo: Sipho Siso

The Birds came to his quarterfinal game oozing with confidence after they beat Kempton Park Ladies 2–0 courtesy of a brilliant brace by goal-poacher Segwatle. They were thumped 7–0 in their group stage opening game by defending champions UJ Ladies and went on to draw 0–0 with Mito Ladies.