Youngster fills Asa’s big goalkeeping shoes
ALEXANDRA - SASOL League outfit Bluebirds lost three of its most outstanding players who formed the pillar of strength in the team's maiden season of the league last year.
SASOL League outfit Bluebirds lost three of its most outstanding players who formed the pillar of strength in the team’s maiden season of the league last year.
Two of the players, award-winning goalkeeper Asa Rabalao and defender Thabile Nene, have taken studies at the North West University’s Mahikeng campus, and the Birds have loaned them to the varsity team for the three years of their studies.
Prolific midfielder and University of Johannesburg student, Linah Maphanga, has crossed the floor to join fellow Sasol League outfit Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies after being snapped up by the Brazilians, who were impressed by her football skills and the way she marshalled the Birds midfield.
Birds coach Malvin Khumalo said he had promoted youngster, Sphesihle Madala to take over the role of minding the posts in the absence of Rabalao, who did a splendid job for the team and ensured they survived initial season.
“She is a good keeper and a worthy replacement of Rabalao. She’s looking sharper, and I am satisfied with her performance during the off-season, and confident she will be a worthy keeper to fill the shoes of Rabalao,” Khumalo said.
The Birds also secured a back-up keeper from Wits University Ladies, in Kholosa Dzakwa, who is expected to start the season opener against AmaTuks Ladies over the weekend, as Madala has not returned from the Easter holidays.
“I will miss my colleagues in the Bluebirds team, but can assure our followers in Alex and beyond that I will be back once I am done with my studies,” said Rabalao, who has registered for a Sports Science degree.
“Alex is my home, and Bluebirds is my second home, hence I accepted a loan offer as opposed to being sold outright, as I am still determined to come back to the team that made me what I am today,” said Rabalao, who was decorated by the club for her outstanding performance between the posts.
Meanwhile, the 18-team Sasol League has been divided into two streams of nine teams for the 2015 season, as the South African Football Association and sponsors Sasol would like to trim down the league teams to 16 in the 2016 season.
What this means is that the bottom two teams from each stream will be relegated at the end of the season and the two streams will then be amalgamated again with the desired 16 teams.
