Smeda looks forward to making mark
It was a mixed weekend for Gauteng’s National First Division sides with all three getting different results – one won, one drew and the other lost. They all, however, remain in contention for the title despite the closest side to the leaders now trailing them by four points.
University of Pretoria lost a good chance of closing the gap to one point on Stellenbosch as they were handed a 3-0 drubbing in Cape Town. Stellies were unforgiving with striker Iqraam Rayners continuing his brilliant scoring run with two goals and Deano van Rooyen adding his name to the scoresheet as well.
The win didn’t give Steve Barker’s side much relief from their chasers though with Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila still one point behind them after their 1-0 win over Witbank Spurs with Nhlanhla Mgaga scoring the winner for the home side.
Jomo Cosmos were made to sweat for their points, but will be happy that Charlton Mashumba is fast proving to be a great signing as he saved the side from an embarrassing defeat at the hands of lowly Ubuntu Cape Town when he equalised with eight minutes left on the clock in their 1-1 draw at Vosloorus Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The defeat would have been Ezenkosi’s second in a row, while the win would have been the first and a huge boost for Ubuntu and their new coach Vladislav Heric, who was in charge of only his second match.
Ubuntu looked to have it in the bag after Wassem Isaacs put them ahead with 20 minutes to go but it was not to be as Mashumba’s strike earned a draw just five minutes after he was introduced as a substitute.
It was Mashumba’s second goal in three matches after his return from Highlands Park, where he spent a frustrating two seasons.
Cosmos are now eighth in the standings and trail the leaders by six points with five games to go to the Christmas break. They have collected 14 points from three wins, five draws and two defeats. Ubuntu remain winless and bottom of the standings with three draws and seven defeats in their 10 games.
Mokete Tsotetsi’s Maccabi FC were the only winners from Gauteng as they beat Royal Eagles 2-1 away in Durban. Eagles had just heard the news that their former coach Roger Sikhakhane had died when they took to the field. They already had a new coach as Zlatko Krmpotic was appointed earlier last week as Sikhakhane’s replacement.
Sikhakhane died after a long illness.
Lebogang Mokoena and Sydeny Mtshweni scored for the visitors but Diego Brown’s goal was not enough to help the home side get anything out of the match.
Maccabi are now 10th in the standings with 12 points in their maiden season in the paid ranks. Leandra Smeda (above) believes Banyana Banyana have what it takes to do well at the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and qualify for the 2019 Fifa World Cup.
The Banyana star, who recently returned home after a spell in Lithuania with Gintra Universitetas, says the experience in the squad is massive with a number of players in the team having international experience and playing for clubs overseas.
“There is vast experience in the team, there is no doubt about that. That is why we are so eager to see ourselves playing at the World Cup next year. I think we have grown so much as individual players and as a team as a whole,” said Smeda.
“If you look at how we play, you can see there is a connection among the players. We have been playing together for a long time and what is really making us grow as a team is the fact that several players are now playing their football overseas. It has helped so much because we learn so much from other countries and bring everything we have learned back into the national team.”
Even though she spent less than five months in the European country, the Western Cape-born players appreciate the opportunity she got at Gintra, which saw her playing in the Uefa Women’s Champions League and vows to make it count.
“It was a great experience playing in the Champions League, it was very competitive and loved every minute of it. I have to admit I really enjoyed my stay and learned a lot even though it wasn’t for too long.”
The 29-year-old is in camp with Banyana with the squad going through their final phase of preparations for the AWC in Ghana, starting on November 17.
Head coach Desiree Ellis is expected to announce her final squad tomorrow and the squad depart for Ghana on Friday.