Bantwana come unstuck in Zambia

Tshepo Ntsoelengoe

It wasn’t a good start in the Fifa women’s Under-17 World Cup qualifiers for Bantwana as they went down 2-0 to Zambia in the first leg played at the Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia yesterday.

But, it was always going to be hard for coach Simphiwe Dludlu’s charges as some of the players had travelled out of the country for the first time and had to play a crucial game like a World Cup qualifier.

The home side looked much more relaxed and threatened to score from the early stages of the game with midfielder Loveness

Malunga being denied by the post as early as the fourth minute.

The visitors tried to create some attacks but Zambia remained solid at the back. But Bantwana finally managed to get something productive going when Nelly Gamede got a chance to test the Zambian keeper, but the midfielder’s shot went wide.

In the 33rd minute, Shepolopolo almost got their second goal of the match through defender Diana Banda, but Rosalie James was well positioned between the poles to keep South Africa in the game.

As much as Bantwana made an effort to get an equaliser, nothing seemed to materialise for the South Africans while Zambia went on to get their second goal of the match courtesy of Banda just before half-time.

Zambia could have sealed the game in the second stanza as they threw everything at their opponents. They were unlucky when they hit the crossbar for the second time in the game just before the half-hour mark.

Bantwana got a chance to at least get a consolation goal in the dying moments of the game, but Thimna Mpehle’s shot was well saved by the Zambian shot-stopper.

South Africa will have to ensure that they lift their performance for the second leg which will be played over the weekend of 13–15 March if they hope to advance to the next stage.