Red Roses and Thunderbirds well pruned for clash
RED ROSES and Thunderbirds are preparing to battle it out for the provincial Sasol League title after emerging winners of their respective streams over the weekend.
Both teams are sitting at the summit and are ready to lock horns in a provincial championship game, where the coastal stream winner plays the inland stream champs to determine the Eastern Cape Sasol League winner.
Roses head coach Sibusiso Mantshongana said their 2-1 defeat to Cumakala Ladies in the buildup was not an issue as they were already winners of the inland stream.
“We were just finishing the league so that loss doesn’t matter because we are busy preparing for the final game against the coastal stream champs [Thunderbirds].
“We are busy trying to buildup support from local businesses as we are going to a camp over the weekend – but it’s very hard as we have to take from our pockets to provide for the team. Things like food, toiletries, and other logistics.”
Mantshongana’s side won the provincial title two years ago and were the runners-up last year after losing to City Lads.
“The lack of support of the teams really hinders progress in the sport, because if we were getting enough support we would be achieving greater things. But now I have to share my salary with my household and my club.
“And the only thing that motivates us is the love for soccer and seeing how the girls enjoy the sport, I think that’s what motivates most of us as coaches and club owners.”
Roses go into the final game where the provincial champions will be decided on 27 points, while their opponent Thunderbirds are perched on 35 points in their stream.
Thunderbirds coach Thembalethu Apleni said they had played a tough match against their arch-rivals City Lads but he was glad they managed to maintain their unbeaten record.
“We managed to get a lead in the first half and that’s when they started to attack more but then in second half it’s like we just stopped playing and it looked we were just defending. That was our downfall, we just didn’t play in the middle of the park and we allowed them to play more than us, and they got a chance to attack more and that was the spirit we needed to win and we lost it.”
Sasol League coastal stream results: Sophakama Ladies 1-1 Birmingham City, University of Fort Hare 1-1 Manchester Babes, Thunderbirds 1-1 City Lads. Inland Stream: Cumakala Ladies 2-1 Red Roses Ladies, Eastern Rangers Ladies 2-0 Amanqilo Birds.
Thunderbirds versus Red Roses to be played on November 4.