The Sunday Mail
MAMELODI Sundowns defeated Hasaacas Ladies 2-0 to win the title of the first edition of TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Friday night, and added to the men’s team achievement of wining CAF Champions League in 2016.
Chuene Morifi started the scoring with an assist from Andisiwe Mgcoyi in the 33rd minute, then Mgcoyi herself added another goal at the 65th minute to end it 2-0 for her team, despite her teammate Regina Mogolola receiving a red card at the 92nd minute with a VAR review, just two minutes after being subbed into the game.
Jerry Tshabalala, the Mamelodi Sundowns coach, was a naturally elated man.
“I was afraid we were not clinical enough, but today we were marvellous. I am very happy for my girls.”
“I spoke to Mgcoyi and told her that she needs to bring it to the party, and that’s what she did. I am proud of her and the whole team,” he said.
“I saw how Hasaacas Ladies played before. I needed to press them with three strikers. Lucky enough, they are not taller than us. We had confidence playing our football and we frustrated Hasaacas Ladies even though they played good football.
“We came to this tournament and saw the level of competition; I assure you next time, it will be even tougher. “We are the first team to win the WCL and we did it without conceding a goal.”
Andisiwa Mgcoyi, the Mamelodi Sundowns forward, was voted woman of the match and could not hold back her tears of joy as she was handed her award.
“When we won COSAFA and qualified to the WCL, I wanted to be in the wining team.
“I thank God for all of this. I was so stressed today when I woke up, because I was worried I couldn’t help my team from the beginning of the tournament. Also my coach needed me to help the team, this means so much to us. We wrote our history. They will not remember Mgcoyi, they will remember Mamelodi Sundowns.
“To be the first team that wins WCL is huge. Women’s football is growing in Africa, and it’s a good thing for us to be role models for young girls.”
Yussif Basigi, Hasaacas coach, conceded defeat. “It’s unfortunate that we did not win. We came in with the intention of winning, but it was almost impossible. We will be ready to win the next edition of WCL.
“My centre-backs had to cover more for the half-backs. I never taught my players to set offside traps, so the second goal did not happen because of that.
“The next edition will surely be tougher, we came here and saw it all. Everyone will go back and get stronger for the next time.
“It’s historic for us to be in the final, because others came and went, but we stayed.”
Black Rhinos Queens, who represented Zimbabwe and came close to reaching the Champions League group stage, will take some comfort in the fact that the side that beat them in the COSAFA final, Mamelodi Sundowns, have been crowned the inaugural winners of the competition. — supersport.com/Sports Reporter.
