Birds coach hopes for victory in the Sasol League season opener

Alexandra’s Bluebirds Football Club kick off their second season of the Sasol Women’s Football League this weekend (11 April) with an away clash with University of Pretoria Ladies at the Tuks Stadium.

Birds coach Malvin Khumalo said his team was only 90 percent ready for the league opener due to various issues, the main culprit being the Easter holiday break which resulted in some players not attending training as they were still away on school holidays.

His major worry is the fitness of star striker Zingawe Phakathi, who has missed some of her training sessions due to the pressure of school work and family issues. Zingawe is in matric at Realogile High School and the pressure is taking its toll.

Though worried, Khumalo said he has promoted one of his promising juniors, Natasha Goge as a possible replacement for Zingawe.

“I also have Vakile Mnguni who has been doing very well in the off-season friendlies, scoring most of our goals,” he said.

Khumalo said they would be looking to her to carry the burden of scoring goals if their lethal finisher, Zingawe, was unfit to play.

“I am confident she will do the job for us if her off-season form is anything to go by,” the coach said.

The Birds also have a new weapon in their arsenal by the name of Thobile Ngubeni who was signed during the off-season from a club in KwaZulu-Natal.

“My only worry is that she will not be eligible for selection, especially for this opener against AmaTuks Ladies, as there is a delay in the processing of her clearance from her former club [which is hampering us in registering] her in time.”

Ngubeni is a central midfield player who impressed the coach during her off-season play in the friendlies the Birds had, and it is said she has the ability to attack when the need arises.

“I am sure once she settles down into the team, she will be a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the park.”

The season opener kicks off at 3pm at the Tuks Stadium in Pretoria, and Khumalo rated his chances of getting a result from the encounter at 50 percent. “Our chances and theirs are 50-50, but due to the resources at their disposal, they may have an upper hand.”