Mbane’s mission: Stop Nigeria’s goal-getters
DEFENDING African women’s champions Nigeria banged in 11 goals in three group games in defence of their title. But South Africa defender Bambanani Mbane is determined to blunt the west African side’s strike force when the teams meet in the African Women’s Chmpionship (AWC) semi-finals tonight (8pm kickoff ).
Mbane’s calmness under pressure belies the fact that this AWC is her first major tournament. Not even a 35 000 strong crowd at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, against the hosts Cameroon last week, intimidated the 26-year-old centre-back who went about her business like an international veteran.
She tidied up things at the back with her clean tackles and ability to play out of the box instead of hoofing the ball forward. Those qualities had impressed former coach Vera Pauw. The Dutch coach brought Mbane into the Banyana Banyana set-up last year after seeing her play in the Sasol League in Bethlehem.
And Pauw drafted her into the Rio Olympic squad without having ever played for Banyana in a competitive match.
“I learned a lot from the Olympics,” Mbane said. “I knew that I had to improve if I wanted to make my way into the team and start. That hard work has paid off and that’s why I am playing here. The plan was to make it difficult for the coach to drop me once I got my chance.
“I am more confident now because I was given a chance and I used it. I am playing with experienced players in Janine (van Wyk), Vivo (Nothando Vilakazi), Noko (Matlou) and Leandra (Smeda). They helped me to settle down quickly and not be overwhelmed by everything.” Those four players along with Mbane are likely to start at the back tonight against Nigeria in Limbe.
Interim coach Desiree Ellis fielded three centre-backs – Mbane, Matlou and Van Wyk – against Egypt to give the fullbacks Smeda and Vilakazi more freedom to go forward. That turned Banyana into a stronger unit when they attacked, with solid support at the back when they defended. They will need that security against Nigeria’s strong attack of Asisat Oshoala and Desire Oparanozie. The two have scored seven of the Super Falcons’ goals to date. Oshoala scored six of those, one more than Banyana’s tally for the tournament.
“We are hoping that we get more from her (Oshoala) in the semi-final,” Nigeria coach Florence Omagbemi said. “But it is not all about her. We are trying to build a strong unit so that we can win as a team.”
Both coaches are in temporary charge of their teams.
They have faced each other before as players. Their motivation to win this AWC is different. For Ellis, this tournament is about achieving things that she couldn’t as a player or captain… become an African champion.
She lost in two finals as a player, in 1995 and in 2000. On both ocassions Banyana lost to Nigeria. For Omagbemi, this is about continuing where she left of ALSO INSIDE: Extra Strong football, P25 Boks: Things to fix, P26 Ajax host Downs, P26 as a player and captain. The 41-year-old coach won this tournament four times as a player, including the 2000 edition.
“We will approach the game against South Africa just like we have approached the other ones,” Omagbemi said. “We know that when you reach this stage you will find tougher opponents. The challenge in the semi-final is different from the one in the group stage. We know that this is a once-off clash unlike the group stage, if you lose there is no coming back. I have drilled that into my players because we came here to defend our trophy.”