Female football on the rise in Vosloorus

This was confirmed during the game between Overflow Ladies FC and Onkabetse Ladies FC (the hosts) at Vosloorus Stadium on July 15.

The friendly game between the two teams, both from Vosloorus, was played before the u-11s final game of the Onkabetse Day Care Centre Football Tournament between Spruitview Eleven FC and TK Stars.

Ladies from both teams displayed good football even though Overflow FC had an upper hand over the hosts as they won the game 3-0.

Edward Ngomane, media and communications manager at Onkabetse Day Care Centre, said Okabetse FC was formed by Onkabetse Day Care Centre with the aim of representing the organisation.

“The team was formed two weeks before the tournament with the aim of representing the organisation in tournaments around townships,” said Ngomane.

“This was just our first game. We used it to test how far there is to go in building this team. Our players did not know the basics of football as they are new in soccer. But after this game, their attitude about football changed. They now love football,” said Ngomane.

According to Emma ‘Neima’ Moahloli, the player of the match, she felt good about the win.

“I am very excited about the win today. So do my teammates. The team we played against was new but it did not show because they had stamina. They gave us a run for our money,” said Moahloli.

About her goal that she scored, Moahloli said: “After dribbling past one player from the opposition I gained confidence, then I dribbled past the second one, the third one and then the fourth. When I looked up their keeper was out of balance then I took a lucky shot from a long range. Fortunately, their keeper was well beaten,” said Moahloli.

She added that they are not going to let the win go to their heads as it might affect their performance when they play their next game.

Nompumelelo ‘Player’ Buthelezi, the best player from Onkabetse FC, said she does feel bad about the loss.

“We lost to a good team, but we will take the results of this game and make sure we improve in our next game,” said Buthelezi.

She said as a team they learned a lot from the game.

Overflow FC head coach Thato Matebisa said his passion is to develop young footballers’ talent to the best of their ability.

“I want to see these girls play football on a professional level and even for the national team,” Matebisa said.

He added that in future he would like to see the Premier Soccer League (PSL) have a league for women as competitive as for men.

“I think the Federation of International Football Association (Fifa) or PSL should stop undermining the capabilities of women and start a very competitive league for women. It is long overdue,” Matebisa emphasised.

He added that there are women who play football better than men who are playing football at a professional level.

Other players who performed at their utmost best on the day were Lucy ‘Swarez’ Maphutha and Mihle ‘Mhlekazi’ Hlumkeza, both from Overflow FC.

For their good effort on the day, Overflow FC got a trophy and gold medals. Onkabetse FC walked away with the second place trophy as well as silver medals.