Banyana looking to improve against Angola in Cosafa Cup

Banyana Banyana and Mamelodi Sundowns striker Melinda Kgadiete believes the team can only grow stronger as they progress in the Cosafa Women’s Cup.

Kgadiete and her national team teammates began their journey at in the tournament in the Nelson Mandela Bay with a 2-1 victory over Malawi on Tuesday, with the Downs player scoring the opening Group A goal for the hosts in the early moments of the game.

Now, the team has a meeting with Angola in their second group game, a side that played to a 2-2 draw with Mozambique in their first game of the tournament.

“I think we had a good start, especially with the fact that we won the match. But, I think we can do much better. Everyone knows it because we have prepared thoroughly for the tournament even though there wasn’t much time, because we had just come back from another tournament in Nigeria,” said the lethal goal-poacher.

“Malawi were good, they gave us a run for our money. They wanted to compete and they did. I am expecting Angola to do the same, especially since they drew their first game. They will be aiming for maximum points. But we are also going for three points, we won’t just sit back. We have to make sure that we collect as many points as possible to qualify for the next round without a struggle, we have to do it ourselves and not depend on anybody.”

As the defending champions of the tournament, she says Banyana are aiming to hold on to their trophy, but knows that there is still a long way to go in the tournament.

“Sure, that is what we want (winning the tournament). We all want that and we are going to go all out to achieve that goal. But, it is not like other teams are just going to allow us to win the trophy. They are going to make it hard for us.”

Banyana are currently on top of the group with three points, and a win against Angola will see them qualify for the next stage of the competition.

Angola and Mozambique are tied on one point, while Malawi have not registered a point going into the second group phase games.