Birds' Nonhlanhla 'Gaddafi' Mthandi (blue), the opening goalscorer, is chased by a Fabulous player.
A goal in each half was enough for coach Malvin Khumalo’s Bluebirds girls to collect maximum points in their Sasol Women’s League game against crosstown rivals Soweto Fabulous Ladies.
The Fabulous Ladies, who are number 12 on the 16 team log with only three points from six games, proved not to be as fabulous when they went down 2–0 in a game played at Alexandra Stadium.
From the six games they have played so far, including this one, the Fabulous Ladies have only won one and lost five, making them vulnerable
candidates for relegation, although the league is still in its infancy with many more games to go before they begin the second round.
Birds, on the other hand, are in fifth position with 13 points from six games, having lost one to Tuks Ladies and played to 1–1 draw with
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Ladies and Thembisa’s Palace Super Falcons are log leaders, tied at 15 points from five games, though with a game each in hand.
The tussle for the ball continues between stylish Birds midfielder Noxolo ‘Zongo’ Gcina (blue) with a Fabulous defender during their Sasol League game at Alexandra Stadium.
In their game against Fabulous Ladies, Malvin’s girls were so wasteful in front of goals as they could have easily gone 11 goals up in the
first half had all their chances rattled the back of the net.
Returnee Zingawe Phakathi had her fair share of six wasteful moments in front of goals and so were captain Nyatama Mnguni’s five, Nonhlanhla ‘Gaddafi’ Mthandi’s two, Noxolo ‘Zongo’ Gcina’s two, and Tshwarelo Digaota’s one.
It was in the closing stages of the first half that Mthandi finally found her scoring boots and the two teams went into the break with the Birds leading 1–0.
Stylish Birds midfielder Noxolo ‘Zongo’ Gcina (blue) in a tussle for the ball with a Fabulous defender during their Sasol League game at Alexandra Stadium.
On resumption, the same list of the wasteful five continued where they had left off in the first half until Mnguni redeemed herself with a beautiful shot that narrowly slipped under the crossbar to seal the game for the Birds.
Fabulous Ladies never gave Birds keeper Tshidi Morua any frightening moments as she safely handled the few attempts at her goal, and coach Khumalo bemoaned the missed chances and said his girls need to learn to kill the game.
“I am not happy at all with the number of missed opportunities. We need to be ruthless in front of goals as we did in the recent JM Busha Tournament.
Stylish Birds midfielder Noxolo ‘Zongo’ Gcina (blue) races with the ball towards the goal with a Fabulous defender in hot pursuit during their Sasol League game at Alexandra Stadium.
“Tshwarelo has lost form, Zongo is still yet to find her rhythm after several months of injury, and Zingawe is still to gain her fitness. I am playing Zingawe and Zongo in the hope they can quickly gain fitness as we go forward,” he said.
Stylish Birds midfielder Noxolo ‘Zongo’ Gcina (blue) races with the ball towards the goal with a Fabulous defender in hot pursuit during their Sasol League game at Alexandra Stadium.
Birds’ next game is an away fixture to Springs Home Sweepers on 13 May. They are currently in position six on the log with nine points from five games, having won three and lost two, and Khumalo hopes for maximum points as well.
