Birds set to swoop into new season against Sweepers

Bluebirds Ladies will open their account of the 2021 season of the Sasol Women’s League with an away game in Kwa-Thema against an unpredictable Springs Home Sweepers side on 10 April.

This will be the first time that amateur football returns to the playing fields after more than a year of suspension following the outbreak of the Covid-19 global pandemic which led to a complete shutdown of countries in a bid to stop the rapid spread of the coronavirus.

Birds’ team administrator Katlego ‘KG’ Malaka said their new coach Buti Phiri was doing everything possible to get the team ready for the opening game after the girls spent more than a year without kicking a ball.

Malaka added the team was 98 per cent intact with the players who played the last three games of the cancelled 2020 season available. They were lucky to welcome back their star keeper Siphesihle Madala who has since re-joined the team.

“We have promoted a promising up and coming right back youngster by the name of Amukelani Maluleke from our development side who is also a national U20 player. We also have three new players from Limpopo, among them a promising striker,” Malaka said.

Asked whether the team was going to mount a bid for promotion to the newly established National Women’s League, Malaka said they were still developing the team and hence they were taking one game at a time.

“Our vision is to build a strong squad this season with the ultimate aim of fighting for promotion in the 2022 season. We’re going to do all in our power to ensure the team is ready for the crunch promotion season. We want to be playing in the new league by 2023.”