Banyana Banyana striker Silindile Ngubane netted her first goal in just her second outing, in a 1-all draw international friendly encounter against Zimbabwe, played at the Sinaba Stadium in Daveyton, near Johannesburg on Tuesday, 16 October 2012.
Coming on as a second half substitute, Ngubane, who scored 11 goals to finish as the leading goalscorer for her club Durban Ladies (Sasol League KwaZulu Natal) at the Sasol League National Championships held in Durban in July this year, levelled the score 15 minutes after the break, firing home in a crowded Zimbabwean penalty area.
This was the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana team’s final home match before jetting off to Cameroon on Friday to continue their preparations for the CAF African Women Championship 2012 to be held in Equatorial Guinea from 28 October to 11 November 2012.
Zimbabwe stunned the mostly Banyana Banyana supporters into silence in the 12th minute when Rudo Neshamba took advantage of some poor defensive work by the home side, to head home past an out-stretched Banyana Banyana No1 Thoko Mndaweni.
Eight minutes later, Banyana Banyana vice captain and central defender Janine van Wyk nearly equalised for the hosts via a well-struck free kick, but her long range shot was tipped over the cross bar by Zimbabwean goalkeeper Chido Dzingirai.
Banyana Banyana had a super opportunity to get back on level terms just eight minutes after the half-time break after being awarded a penalty when striker Sanah Mollo was fouled on the right hand side of the Zimbabwean penalty area.
But Mollo’s fellow striker, the experienced Portia Modise had her spot-kick well-saved by goalkeeper Dzingirai, who had a consistent game between the posts for the visitors.
Hard-working Banyana Banyana left back defender Nothando Vilakazi was rewarded for her efforts with the Sasol Diski Queen (Player of the Match) award.
Speaking after the match, Banyana Banyana head coach Joseph Mkhonza said: “The two international friendly fixtures against Zimbabwe over the past week were crucial as far as giving our ladies game time ahead of the CAF African Women Championship 2012 is concerned. After a two-month break following our participation at the London Olympics, we returned to camp to work hard on the fitness levels of the players, and now will put more focus on the tactical side of play in the lead in to the African tournament.”
Banyana Banyana beat Zimbabwe 1-0 in the first international friendly played at the Dobsonville stadium, Soweto at the weekend.