THE Eastern Cape sports fraternity is celebrating another success after the provincial women’s u.17 squad won the SAFA u.17 Women’s National Championships, which were held in Bloemfontein.
The Eastern Cape girls won the tournament, beating the highly rated Gauteng team 5-2 in the final. The success follows the u.19s’ victory in their national women’s tournament in Johannesburg last year.
The team was coached by Ayakha Gqoboka, who is also the coach of Ayakha Stars, from the OR Tambo region. Gqoboka also won the coach of the tournament award as she led the Eastern Cape to glory.
The Chris Hani District had two players in the team, both from Engcobo’s Eluhewini Ladies’ FC, which is campaigning in the provincial Sasol Women’s League.
They were striker Oyisa Marhasi (15) and left back Zusiphe Goniwe (15).
SAFA Eastern Cape secretary, Isaac Klaas, was very happy for the team and also praised the development structures of the province.
“These are the same players who were part of the cluster teams that were playing against Osnabrucker SC from the State of Lower Saxony in Germany.
“We are very excited as province to win this tournament; it means we are moving in the right direction in developing women’s football because last year the u/19s did the same,” Klaas said.
Klaas praised the technical staff, players and the stakeholders for the support they shown in the team while they were competing in Bloemfontein.
