It all comes up Roses for Magnificent Seven

RED Roses showed heart when they played the entire first half during the Sasol League inland stream game against Executive Ladies with only seven players and still managed to pull off a 5-1 win on Sunday.

Roses’ Pilisa Mjambane scored two goals, Zintle Manela followed also with her own two goals while Ntandokazi Siyikile got one.

Roses are now sitting on the number one spot on the log boasting 14 points performance.

Roses head coach Sibusiso Mantshongana said his side has showed determination to be the best in the league.

“This is dedication from the players and the proper planning we as the coaching staff put into the game. Because sometimes you might observe that my team was not supposed to have won but despite unplanned occurrences they came out tops.

“For instance this last game we played, we started a game with seven players and finished the after their stellar whole first half with those players. The remaining squad arrived when we were going to start the second half but due to the experience our players have and their fighting spirit we won the game with high margins,” he said.

Mantshongana said the Sasol League clubs were faced with a number of issues such as players having to get employment so they can sustain themselves and their families including the financial challenges faced by the clubs playing in the league.

“We have to transport the players from our own pockets sometimes but women playing soccer are passionate and every one of us is doing what they love so we won’t complain.”

He continued: “We plan to win the provincial playoffs of the National Championships [Sasol League National Champs] and be number one and that’s not going to be easy.

“Unlike with men’s football, where there’s a huge difference even though we might be in the highest level in female football.”

Mantshongana said he was not pointing fingers at anyone but women’s soccer is not being taken serious in the whole country.

Other results in the Sasol League inland stream: Amanqilo Birds beat Golden City 6-0; and Mthatha City played a 1-1 tie against Cumakala Ladies.

This weekend will see the coastal stream play at their respective venues: Manchester Babes v Continental Express (Jabavu Field, Uitenhage); Golden Stars v Thunderbirds Ladies (PE College, Dower Campus); Sophakama Ladies v UFH (Zwide Stadium, PE); City Lads v Birmingham City (New Brighton, PE).