Birds trio called up for U17 Nigeria mission
JOBURG - Three promising players of Alexandra’s Bluebirds Ladies team have been called up for the South Africa U17 World Cup qualifying match against Nigeria on 12 March.
The Birds trio are new goal minder Siphesihle Madala, Morongwa Manamela and Tshwarelo Digaota.
Madala replaced the departed Asa Rabolao at the Birds outfit after Rabolao joined Hungarian club side, Gyor Eto.
Digaota is the latest teenage sensation to join the Birds and is being touted as the new Zingawe Phakathi of the team. Phakathi has since parted ways with the Birds and rumour has it that she will be joining crosstown rivals JVW Ladies in Bedfordview following her request to be given her clearance certificate at the end of last season.
Manamela is another gem snapped up by the Birds from the High Performance Centre in Pretoria and is expected to bolster the striking force of the Alex outfit as they look forward to yet another bruising season of the Sasol League which starts on 19 March.
The three joined their U17 teammates on 6 March for a national camp and will leave on 12 March for Abuja in Nigeria for the third round of the first leg of the U17 World Cup qualifier. The U17 national team coach, Maud Khumalo said the players would return to their respective clubs soon after doing their national duty in Nigeria.
Birds mentor, Malvin Khumalo was delighted with his players’ call-up and hoped his three gems would be able to bring back valuable experience that would auger well for his team going into the 2016 Sasol League season.
“It’s a good opportunity for the players, and the experience of an international competition will be valuable to their confidence when coming back to compete for us in the domestic league,” he said.
“The kind of training they receive in the national team helps them to be in good physical shape and mental toughness too. To the [Birds] team, it gives courage to the other players to work even harder to follow in the footsteps of those who have achieved.
“We pride ourselves as a brand with the production and contribution towards the success of the national team,” added a delighted Khumalo who also sees this as a feather in his own coaching cap.
Details: Safa 011 494 3522 or www.safa.net
