South Africa completed a ‘double’ for the second year in a row as they claimed both the Boys’ and Girls’ titles at the African Schools Football Championship Cosafa Qualifier, Zimbabwe 2023 on Saturday.
Both will advance to the continental finals to be played next year having come out on top following a superb three days of schools football action in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare.
The boys’ team, made up predominantly of players from the Ubuntu Football Academy School in Cape Town, defeated Malawi 3-0 on penalties after the teams had played to a 1-1 draw in a pulsating final.
Malawi took the lead on the stroke of halftime in the Boys’ final as Okestar Kanyenda scored a superb goal when he struck the ball on the volley and into the far post.
Malawi had several promising attacks but were repeatedly caught offside before South Africa made them pay.
Rhys Ferguson saw his initial shot on the volley come back off the post, but he reacted quickest to the loose ball to send it into the net and take the game to spot-kicks.
South Africa scored all of theirs, but Malawi missed each of their penalties as Amos Nyirenda struck the crossbar, and Tinga Nkhoma and James Msongole had their efforts saved by goalkeeper Sabrie Losper.
Hosts Zimbabwe claimed third place in the boys’ competition with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Namibia in their bronze-medal match.
It was a game of few clear-cut chances, but the best fell to the hosts. It looked as though they would be taken to penalties before El Shaddai Sadomba scored a fantastic goal late on.
He picked up the ball in the box and fired a low shot into the bottom corner, beating the outstretched dive of the goalkeeper.
It caps a fine tournament for Zimbabwe, who will be ruing their one poor performance – an opening 4-0 loss to Malawi that put them on the back foot in their pool. Otherwise they were excellent.
South Africa, made up mostly of players from Edendale Technical High School, claimed gold in the girls’ final with a 3-1 victory over Botswana, who pushed them all the way.
Khwezi Khoza, who finished as the leading scorer in the competition with 11 goals, netted twice for the South Africans to go with a goal for livewire winger Rethabile Molefe.
Botswana’s consolation goal came from Amogelang Sebotho, who was impressive throughout the competition.
Mozambique were comfortable winners in the girls’ bronze-medal match as they defeated Namibia 4-0, the latter unlucky to finish fourth and outside the medals in both the boys’ and girls’ events.
The excellent Isabel Cuinhane scored all four goals for Mozambique in a dominant display from their side.
South Africa’s Simama Inganathi was named Player of the Tournament in the Boys’ competition, while Losper took home the Golden Glove. Teammate Rhys Ferguson and Zimbabwe’s Sadomba shared the Golden Boot having scored four goals each.
Hosts Zimbabwe also took home the Fair Play award.
South Africa’s Katleho Malebana was named Player of the Tournament in the Girls’ category, while teammates Angel Zibula won Golden Glove and Khoza the Golden Boot. Namibia won the Fair Play prize.
The winning associations in the two categories take home $100,000, the runners-up $75,000 and third place $50,000.
The awards are decided by the Technical Study Group at the tournament, using data gained from the players’ performances in each match.
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
GIRLS
Third-Place Play-Off
Mozambique 4 (Isabel Cuinhane 4) Namibia 0
Final
South Africa 3 (Khwezi Khoza 2, Rethabile Molefe) Botswana 1 (Amogelang Sebotho)
BOYS
Third-Place Play-Off
Zimbabwe 1 (El Shaddai Sadomba) Namibia 0
Final
Malawi 1 (Okestar Kanyenda) South Africa 1 (Rhys Ferguson) SA won 3-0 on penalties
TOURNAMENT STATISTICS
BOYS
Matches Played: 22
Goals scored: 62
Biggest victory: South Africa 7 Angola 0 (Group B, December 14)
Most goals in a game: 7 – South Africa 7 Angola 0 (Group B, December 14)
GIRLS
Matches Played: 22
Goals scored: 83
Biggest victory: South Africa 14 Angola 0 (Group B, December 14)
Most goals in a game: 14 – South Africa 14 Angola 0 (Group B, December 14)
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