Namibia downs Banyana

NAMIBIA’S under-20 women’s football side proved that a bright future awaits them when they garnered a 3-2 historic home victory over old foes South Africa in an international friendly on Saturday.

With only five senior players to complement their efforts, the youngsters pulled off their biggest win over their southern neighbours, regarded as the powerhouse of women’s football in Africa. They achieved this feat through the support of a partisan crowd of just over 1 000, their technical team and a handful of journalists.Notable absentees were key figures such as NFA secretary general Barry Rukoro, the association’s president John Muinjo and several executive members.Brave Warriors coach Tom Saintfiet was in Walvis Bay conducting coaching clinics, but not even the absence of other football heavyweights who generally grace the stadiums when the senior men’s football side is in action deterred the girls from posting a remarkable victory.The home side did not disappoint as they threw their bodies on the line, as they were composed and had good co-ordination in their interplay.The local side showed that gone are the days of wayward undirected shots, silly tackles, missed headers and little vision in attaining goals in the game.The South Africans brought the best out of the Namibians who demonstrated that they can execute their moves with confidence and at the same time respond well to the instructions from their coaches.The local side played with a purpose and their aim was to win the game at all costs, irrespective of it being a friendly match.FIRST BLOOD Striker Lucinda Bowers, who plays for Namaqua Stars in South Africa, drew first blood when she beautifully lobbed her shot over Namibian goalkeeper Bonita Eixas, who moved too early from her lines.That goal spurred the home side and they started pushing for an equaliser.But the biggest stumbling block for the Namibians to effectively penetrate the South African defence was made difficult by the South African captain and defender Simphiwe Dludlu, who defended solidly and with no compromise.Dludlu, who turns out for Tuks FC (University of Pretoria), made sure that there was no supply coming to Namibia’s leading striker Stella Williams and Kleintjie Fredericks.Both strikers, including Juliana Skrywer, tried to run their way around defenders, but with the presence of Dludlu as the last person in central defence, the Namibians were at times forced to take shots from a distance, which did not deter the South African goalkeeper, Celestine Shabangu.With the crowd firmly behind them, the locals launched a series of attacks which culminated in their first goal through striker Angela Fredericks in the 34th minute.Fredericks, who was so overwhelmed by the goal, showed her joy by sprinting to the bench and embraced assistant coach Jacqui Shipanga.That goal was the beginning of better things to come in the second half as matters stood at 1-all going in to the break.A strike by Skrywer in the 51st minute caught the South Africans off-guard, with Namibia recording its second goal to send the crowd into jubilation.That goal came as a result a huge gap left by South Africa’s captain Dludlu, who was replaced for unknown reasons despite her fantastic defending abilities.But before that, South Africa’s sharp shooter, Daniella Clayford, proved a handful for the Namibian defenders and had Novata Paulus, who looked out of sorts in the game, not able to keep up with her pace.In both halves, Clayford took shots from afar and on two occasions, had Eixas flexing for them, while she also nearly scored after a poor clearance by the Namibian defenders, only for her shot to go over the post.STRONG DEFENCE Despite that, senior player and defender Queen Manga had a blinder and kept the efforts of the South Africans at bay with good clearances, while Mammie Kasaona also provided the needed stability at the back.The two defenders relieved the pressure on Eixas as they put in telling tackles during most of the afternoon.Namibia scored the third goal through super sub Marele Polster, who wasted no time to show the visitors that she had arrived only ten minutes after coming on in the second half.Polster, a busy customer in the Namibian attack, took over where her captain, Kleintjie Fredericks, left off, by keeping the South African defence on their toes which culminated in her goal in the 55th minute.Defender Stacy Naris, the vice captain, took over the captaincy in the second half.Before the third goal by Namibia, there was a goalmouth scramble on the South African side that saw the ball hitting the upright and later being cleared.But Clayford’s persistence paid off when she managed to strike another from distance that Eixas could not keep out despite reaching for it.Eixas was later replaced by Sussana Eises after she sustained an injury, while head coach Max Johnson also introduced Mary Jacobs later in the game to sharpen the attack.After the third goal by Namibia, South African pushed hard for an equaliser, but they left it too late to see the Namibians running away with a famous victory in their first international match at the Khomasdal Stadium.They achieved this feat through the support of a partisan crowd of just over 1 000, their technical team and a handful of journalists.Notable absentees were key figures such as NFA secretary general Barry Rukoro, the association’s president John Muinjo and several executive members.Brave Warriors coach Tom Saintfiet was in Walvis Bay conducting coaching clinics, but not even the absence of other football heavyweights who generally grace the stadiums when the senior men’s football side is in action deterred the girls from posting a remarkable victory.The home side did not disappoint as they threw their bodies on the line, as they were composed and had good co-ordination in their interplay.The local side showed that gone are the days of wayward undirected shots, silly tackles, missed headers and little vision in attaining goals in the game.The South Africans brought the best out of the Namibians who demonstrated that they can execute their moves with confidence and at the same time respond well to the instructions from their coaches.The local side played with a purpose and their aim was to win the game at all costs, irrespective of it being a friendly match.FIRST BLOOD Striker Lucinda Bowers, who plays for Namaqua Stars in South Africa, drew first blood when she beautifully lobbed her shot over Namibian goalkeeper Bonita Eixas, who moved too early from her lines.That goal spurred the home side and they started pushing for an equaliser.But the biggest stumbling block for the Namibians to effectively penetrate the South African defence was made difficult by the South African captain and defender Simphiwe Dludlu, who defended solidly and with no compromise.Dludlu, who turns out for Tuks FC (University of Pretoria), made sure that there was no supply coming to Namibia’s leading striker Stella Williams and Kleintjie Fredericks.Both strikers, including Juliana Skrywer, tried to run their way around defenders, but with the presence of Dludlu as the last person in central defence, the Namibians were at times forced to take shots from a distance, which did not deter the South African goalkeeper, Celestine Shabangu.With the crowd firmly behind them, the locals launched a series of attacks which culminated in their first goal through striker Angela Fredericks in the 34th minute.Fredericks, who was so overwhelmed by the goal, showed her joy by sprinting to the bench and embraced assistant coach Jacqui Shipanga.That goal was the beginning of better things to come in the second half as matters stood at 1-all going in to the break.A strike by Skrywer in the 51st minute caught the South Africans off-guard, with Namibia recording its second goal to send the crowd into jubilation.That goal came as a result a huge gap left by South Africa’s captain Dludlu, who was replaced for unknown reasons despite her fantastic defending abilities.But before that, South Africa’s sharp shooter, Daniella Clayford, proved a handful for the Namibian defenders and had Novata Paulus, who looked out of sorts in the game, not able to keep up with her pace.In both halves, Clayford took shots from afar and on two occasions, had Eixas flexing for them, while she also nearly scored after a poor clearance by the Namibian defenders, only for her shot to go over the post.STRONG DEFENCE Despite that, senior player and defender Queen Manga had a blinder and kept the efforts of the South Africans at bay with good clearances, while Mammie Kasaona also provided the needed stability at the back.The two defenders relieved the pressure on Eixas as they put in telling tackles during most of the afternoon.Namibia scored the third goal through super sub Marele Polster, who wasted no time to show the visitors that she had arrived only ten minutes after coming on in the second half.Polster, a busy customer in the Namibian attack, took over where her captain, Kleintjie Fredericks, left off, by keeping the South African defence on their toes which culminated in her goal in the 55th minute.Defender Stacy Naris, the vice captain, took over the captaincy in the second half.Before the third goal by Namibia, there was a goalmouth scramble on the South African side that saw the ball hitting the upright and later being cleared.But Clayford’s persistence paid off when she managed to strike another from distance that Eixas could not keep out despite reaching for it.Eixas was later replaced by Sussana Eises after she sustained an injury, while head coach Max Johnson also introduced Mary Jacobs later in the game to sharpen the attack.After the third goal by Namibia, South African pushed hard for an equaliser, but they left it too late to see the Namibians running away with a famous victory in their first international match at the Khomasdal Stadium.