Birds of a feather fly high again

Following back-to-back losses to Palace Super Falcons and Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, Bluebirds Ladies bounced back to their winning ways when they clobbered Sasol Women’s League newcomers, Aqua Ladies 3–0.

Aqua means water in Latin.

Like the birds of a feather that they are, the Alex outfit never gave their Krugersdorp counterparts any chance as Aqua’s furiously flowing river quickly became a dry riverbed that offered no life or challenge of any sort.

In a game played at No 3 Square Grounds after being shifted in the 11th hour from the Birds’ fortress of Alexandra Stadium, Izintombi zikaMalvin, (Malvin’s Girls) as the Birds are popularly known in Alex, opened the scoring within 15 minutes of play through the boot of the newly-found striking diamond, Tshwarelo Digaota.

She was a thorn in the flesh of Aqua Ladies as she tormented their defence with her dribbling wizardry, leading to her being fouled inside the box and a penalty was awarded by the referee.

Birds captain Sisipho Samente decided to lead by example and took the penalty herself, which she converted with ease, and the two teams went into the half-time break with Izimtombi zikaMalvin leading 2–0.

Malvin’s Girls started the second half from exactly where they left off in the first with Digaota still making those runs into the box and mesmerising fans with her nimble feet.

But the Aqua defence also stood resolute, and defended well to deny the rampant Birds many scoring opportunities – but their wall of defence finally cracked in the last quarter of the game when Vangile Mnguni beat the line of defenders to make it 3–0.

A delighted Birds coach Malvin Trynos Khumalo said he was happy that the worst was over after the team’s two defeats. “At least now we can also start collecting points,” he added.

Khumalo said his girls played according to the game plan and kept their shape. “I must mention the delight at the play exhibited by Tshwarelo. She played one of her best games since her arrival in the team late last year,” Khumalo said.

Digaota has long been touted as the new Zingawe Phakathi of the team following the departure of the former Realogile High School matriculant who is understood to be on the verge of joining cross-suburban rivals, Janine van Wyk Ladies of Bedfordview.

The Birds’ next game on 14 May is away against the unpredictable University of Johannesburg Ladies and Khumalo was confident of a positive result if his girls play with the same determination and manner in which they did against Aqua Ladies.

“We just have to keep playing better as a team and fight with everything we have,” Khumalo said.