Ehlanzeni’s Francis Ladies FC were the envy of the six teams participating in the inaugural Mpumalanga Women’s Football Tournament, when they beat Empumalanga Ladies 2-0 at the Themba Senamela Stadium on Saturday, 3 May, to walk away with the champions’ prize of R10 000.
“This tournament was meant to help us prepare for the Sasol League, but I told my players to have fun and enjoy themselves,” said Coach Siboniso Simelane. “I am very happy since things were not going well due to the passing of the team owner.
Winning captain Boitumelo Maine heaped praises on her team mates on the work they put into their performance: “This tournament brought inspiration to the team!
“We always looked up to the likes of Amanda Dlamini, and now the tournament provided us with the opportunity to showcase our talents. Now we can stop complaining that Gauteng gets all the action,” said Maine.
At the post-match awards ceremony, Francis Ladies FC walked away with a number of individual awards, including coach, manager and goalkeeper of the tournament.
Other top winners included Coal City Wizards’ Primrose Mtsweni, who walked away with the top goal scorer award, and 18-year-old Pride Nthite of Empumalanga Ladies was named player of the tournament.
The inaugural champions devoted their victory to the club’s late owner, Francis Hlophe. Hlophe died last November after a short illness, and the club has not been same since her passing.
The Francis management requested the attendees reserve a moment of silence after they were presented with their trophy in honour of their founder. “I used to struggle to keep the team together, as they seemed lost when death struck,” recalled Simelane.
Final Result of the Mpumalanga Women’s Football Tournament: Francis Ladies 2-0 Empumalanga Ladies Goal Scorers: Boitumelo Maine Thandekile Lubisi Mpumalanga SASOL League teams participating in the inaugural Mpumalanga Women’s Football Tournament, at the Themba Senamela Stadium on Saturday, 3 May 2014: Mpumalanga Ladies (Nkangala Region) Coal City Wizards (Nkangala Region) Flamingo FC (Enhlanzeni Region) Francis Ladies FC (Enhlanzeni Region) FC Royal Knights (Gert Sibande Region) Leandre FC (Gert Sibande Region)
Main photo caption : Coach Siboniso Simelane lauds inaugural Mpumalanga Women’s Football Tournament champs Francis Ladies FC for a head-start to the 2014 SASOL League
Photo caption: Action included six teams from Mpumalanga’s SASOL League, including Empumalanga Ladies, Coal City Wizards, Flamingo FC, Francis Ladies FC, and FC Royal Knights
(With editing by gsport)
(0 rating, 0 votes, rated)
Loading...
