It was goals galore when Bluebirds Ladies soccer team swooped down on the lame Zebra Forces Ladies and snatched a runaway 5–1 victory in their Sasol Women’s League match at the Philipe Stadium in Soshanguve outside Pretoria.
The Birds took to the pitch with only two intentions in mind, to get three points and to score as many goals as possible to improve their goal difference. “I spent two weeks drilling my strikers on target shooting and practising how to score goals, given our challenges of a lack of goals – and clinical they were on the day. I am glad to have seen the hard work by the players paying off,” said delighted Birds mentor, Malvin Khumalo.
“We played well, created a lot of chances, though we missed a lot too, but there was a slight improvement, as those we converted, we did with conviction.”
Read: Joburg teams headline Diski Challenge
The Birds’ attacking arsenal consisted of Noxolo ‘Zongo’ Gcina, Vangile ‘Nyatama’ Mnguni, and Natasha Goge, who applied the much-needed pressure on the Zebras defence which finally cracked when Zongo netted her first.
It was not long before Nyatama got her name on the score sheet which was followed by Deveney Rhoda’s powerful strike that rattled the net. But the day belonged to a 16-year-old teenage sensation, Dimakatso Mashinini.
DK, as she is known to her teammates, recently graduated from the development side after scintillating performances and Khumalo decided to put her in the deep end in the hope she did not sink – and swim she did. It is not usual for players to score on their debut but this teenage sensation did.
Although Khumalo said he was pleased with the overall performance of the team, he was disappointed that his goalminder, Siphesihle Madala, who had been superb in the last two games by keeping a clean sheet, finally succumbed and was beaten by a solitary strike from the Zebras.
Birds’ next assignment is 6 October against JVW Ladies at the Bedfordview Country Club at 7pm, and Khumalo said they were aiming at keeping their three-match unbeaten record intact.
Read: Gauteng honours its sporting heroes and heroines
JVW are second on the log table and are challenging Mamelodi Sundowns for league honours, and the Birds coach said he expected the Bedfordview girls to come at them like rabid dogs.
The Birds occupy fifth spot on the log but are level on points with fourth-placed team, UJ Ladies.
But with their in-form players, Khumalo said the unthinkable is possible.
Add us on Whatsapp for the latest news by adding 079 4395 345 to your contact list and just send your name to us so we can save your number. Click here to find out more about our Whatsapp policy.
