Bluebirds Ladies are crowned champions of the 2017 JM Busha Women’s Soccer Tournament
ALEXANDRA – It was the sheer brilliance of Buffalo Soldiers' keeper, Nokwanda Mamba who kept her side in contention with her amazing saves.
Tshwarelo Digaota was in fine form as Bluebirds put on one of their most scintillating performances, ever, to be crowned champions of the second edition of the JM Busha Women’s Soccer Tournament.
Birds triumphed 5–4 on penalties against the typically gritty side, Young Buffaloes of Manzini in Swaziland, after playing to a 1–1 draw in regulation time at the dilapidated Alexandra Stadium.
Credit must be given to coach Malvin Trynos Khumalo for finally assembling such a formidable side, full of entertaining footballers just on the eve of the opening matches of the Sasol Women’s League season. If Malvin’s Girls, (izintombi zikaMalvin) as they are known in Alexandra, can translate the fine form they displayed in this tournament to the Sasol League scheduled to start on April Fool’s Day, then other teams had better watch out – for the Birds have arrived.
The Birds started this match like a house on fire but were denied a goal by the Buffalo Soldiers, as the Manzini side are affectionately known for their military links back home.
It was the sheer brilliance of Buffalo Soldiers’ keeper, Nokwanda Mamba who kept her side in contention with her amazing saves. The Birds could have easily been six up before the stroke of halftime.
Birds’ mesmerising left winger, Digaota was on top of her game, tormenting and tearing apart the Buffaloes defence, and her and Nonhlanhla ‘Gaddafi’ Mthandi, Mosili Modise and captain fantastic, Vangile ‘Nyatama’ Mnguni all could have been registered on the scoreboard in the first 15 minutes of the game, had it not been for Mamba’s goalkeeping heroics.
Both teams went into the break at 0–0 but the Buffalo Soldiers came back the more determined team, as they gave the Birds the scare of their lives when they foraged forward and found gaps in the home side’s defence but were let down by poor finishing up front.
But it was the Birds that found the back of the net first through the boot of Modise from a cross by Digaota. However, it was soon 1–1 midway through the second half when what looked like a tame shot from a Buffaloe striker, ended up in the back of the net after Birds keeper, Tshidi Victoria Muroa fumbled the ball.
The two teams had to settle for the dreaded penalty shootout which the Birds won after Muroa redeemed herself to save one of the spot kicks.
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