Natasha Goge returns to the Beautiful Birds

Nearly two months after being injured in a suspected elbowing incident in a soccer game against TUT Ladies, Natasha Goge has returned to the Beautiful Birds.

Goge suffered a severe concussion during the Sasol Women’s League match at the Alexandra Stadium on 20 May which ended in a 5–0 walloping of Banyana baMalvin, as the Birds are fondly known to their followers in Alexandra.

The match marked the start of a bad patch of form for the Birds, but the team seems to be finding their touch again after a couple of victories.

Read: Beautiful Birds wings clipped at Alex Stadium

Goge played a pivotal role in her first match since her injury, against Zebra Forces on 8 July at the Alexandra Stadium. The Birds won 2–1 through an own goal and another coming from captain fantastic, Nyatama Mnguni.

Birds mentor Malvin Trynos Khumalo was delighted with the return of his striker to the team and lauded her for the sterling role she played in the Sasol Women’s League match against the Zebras.

“She appears to have fully recovered after a lay-off of close to two months,” he said. “We fielded her as well in a midweek game of the Map Games prior to the Zebras encounter and she also impressed me with her outstanding work ethic.”

Read: Bluebirds player scares teammates after suspected elbowing and concussion

But the bad news for Khumalo is that her prodigal girl, Zingawe Phakathi has done it again. Phakathi has gone awol and has missed several training sessions.

Khumalo said he had not heard from the prolific striker who was struggling to shed a few kilos and to gain her form after spending more than a year in the wilderness after she demanded to be given her clearance from the Birds.

“I am still yet to hear from her what could be the reason for her absence,” Khumalo said.

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