Two Provincial Sasol Women’s League sides based in the Chris Hani District, Eluhewini Ladies FC from Engcobo, and newcomers Phoenix Birds Ladies FC of Komani, played a friendly match against each other this past weekend at the Dumpy Adams Sport Complex in Komani, in preparation for this season’s top provincial women’s football league.
Phoenix Birds showed hunger on the day, using their skills against the experienced girls in the Sasol Women’s League.
The inexperienced home side took a 2-0 lead after goals from their strikers, Azakhe Vena and Cwenga Ngqonci, before Eluhewini right back, Zenande Sisele and striker, Aphinda Mbeshu, scored in the second half to force a 2-2 draw.
Eluhewini will be playing in the Sasol Women’s League for the fourth time this season, but their head coach, Dumisani Gcina, said they were forced to come to Komani and test new combinations before the start of the season.
“We had to come here and test our new players as you know that every season, we get new faces in this league because we are playing with school kids.
“We lost players who were doing matric last year, and we had to look for new players and that is why we had to come and test new combinations. We are happy with the way we played here, and the opponents are a quality side that I believe will do well in this league.” Said Gcina
Phoenix Birds’ head coach, Ringo Klaas, thanked the Engcobo side for travelling to Komani to give them a practice match.
“We appreciate what they did for us as a new team, because some teams do not want to play with newcomers.
“For us, it was about testing our readiness in the top league against experienced campaigners, and we are now aware of the areas that needs reinforcement.
“For a new team, with young girls, we did well against a team that has been playing in the top flight of the province for years,” said Klaas.
Phoenix will play their first game in the Sasol Women’s League on April 23 at home against experienced Gqeberha side, Sophakama Ladies.
Eluhewini will visit Executives Ladies in Ntabankulu on the same day.
