Basetsana mentor tips fledging starlets for greatness

Following their recent success over Mozambique in the Women’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the South African National Under-20 women’s team will now face Uganda in the third round of the qualifiers.

ALSO READ: Ellis talks consistency after Cosafa disappointment

Basetsana defeated Mozambique 3-2 in the second leg played at the Dobsonville Stadium last Friday, sealing a 4-2 aggregate victory, having beaten the Mozambicans 1-0 in their own backyard in the first leg. 

Basetsana put in a spirited performance, with Asanda Hadebe bagging a hat-trick to send the young starlets through to the next round.

Looking at how her team played, head coach Jabulile Baloyi said she was content with the result, but believes her charges made some mistakes which could have hugely affected the team. 

“I’m glad we got our three goals but we conceded two unnecessary goals which could have been costly.  There were moments in the match that were very disappointing and the level of concentration is something we really have to work on,” said the Basetsana mentor.

Impressed with the exploits of her ladies, Baloyi believes the junior side is destined for greatness.

‘’However, there are also positives to take. We are playing the football we want and with time we will become a great team,” she added.

The dates and venues for the  match against Uganda are yet to confirmed. 

The South African women’s Under-20 side has never competed at the World Cup, while the Under-17 women’s team qualified for their first World Cup back in 2018 in Uruguay and the senior national women’s team Banyana Banyana also turned out at their first ever global tournament in 2019 in France. 

The FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup will hosted in Costa Rica in 2022.