HIGH-OCTANE ACTION: The inaugural women one-day soccer extravaganza kicked off on a high note today… 

By WSAM Reporter

The Alexandra Stadium north of Johannesburg became a smouldering cauldron today – thanks to the high-spirited launch of the inaugural annual Brics Champions League “Women’s Football Community Games” tournament.

Eight local ladies soccer teams battled it out in a six-a-side round robin “mini-league” to decide the winner of a prestigious tournament set to be an annual affair – highlighted by the emergence of the Alexandra-based Blue Birds as the eventual winners and scooping host of prizes at the end of the day.

The Brics Champions League, a brainchild of KwaZulu-Natal entrepreneur Nhlanhla Gumede, is aimed at popularising the intergovernmental organisation comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, on a people-to-people level, and has the support of both the City of Joburg and the Gauteng provincial government and several corporates.

Gumede and the game’s planning committee – headed by Moeder Matela, from the Gauteng Provincial Government and Mandla Mahlangu, representing the City of Joburg – expressed their elation over the success of the pilot games at the end of the day, promising bigger plans when the tournament official kicks next year. Games received support from corporate partners Mafin, AQuelle and Weekly SA Mirror.

All the four games kicked off at the same time for 15 minutes each half, preceded by an aeorobics marathon.

The eight ladies teams featured were: Blue Birds (from Alex), Westbury (from Westburg), Sweet Ladies (from Soshanguve), 7 Stars ( Wynburg),  Roycon Ladies (from Thembisa), Lerato FC (from Meadowlands), M Super Stars (Midrand), and Chansa FC from Diepkloof.

LIONS HUNGRY AGAIN

UPWARD TRAJECTORY: Ditau Dia Rora out to slay visiting Casric Stars

By Masoja Cele

Can Henry Bassie’s team Hungry Lions regain the pulsating form that catapulted them to the summit of the Motsepe Foundation Championship early in the season?

The Northern Cape side host Casric Stars at Windhoek Draught Park Stadium, Postmasburg, with a 15:30 kick-off.

Having spent two seasons in the Championship after promotion in 2020/21 calendar Ditau Dia Rora has done incredible well to remain among the top teams in the league. Though, they suffered a painful 2-1 loss at the claws of Black Leopards last weekend, they are still comfortably cosy on 6th position with only three points behind log leaders Orbit College. A forth-night back the two teams were pitted against each other in the preliminary rounds of the Nedbank Cup and Lions beat Casric 2-0 away from home.

In what promises to be a do or die for both teams a win for the Northern Cape boys will move them as high as third or second potentially bringing them level with other contenders  depending on other results elsewhere. Ditau have so far won 6 of their league games, lost 4 and drew 5. Picking up a decent 23 points in the process. Casric defence will be put to much test on Sunday. Lions striking pair of George Valtyn and  Katlego Cwinyane will be pose a danger to the opposition team.

While, the midfield duo of Archiebold Mahapa and Raymond Daniels will be pulling the strings and distributing those final passes to their forwards in the middle of the park. Coach Bassie will expect his team to show intensity and grind the expected positive results.

The visitors will be hoping to produce a stellar performance against Lions. The Mpumalanga based side will definitely want to close the gap between them and the teams above. Currently, Stars are level on points with the opposition and sits on 5th position because of a better goal difference. Casric approached the match with remarkable goal scoring feat Having triumphed in their two previous league matches with an emphatic 6-1 and 3-1 victory at Orbit College and against Venda FC respectively this encounter is expected to produce fireworks throughout. 

Since the sacking of Ashwin Sutton as Stars head coach the KwaMhlanga based team has seen quality performance and encouraging results. Sutton who failed to deliver good results was replaced by Sundra Govender. Coach Govender previously worked as performance coach at Stars. He is ably assisted by former Mamelodi Sundowns and Bloemfontein Celtic defender Nthabo Nthethe.

The tactical powered Govender will try to push his team to the wirew for the second attempt in pursuit of a DStv Premiership promotion. In the previous campaign Casric were in the national play-offs but tumbled in the mini league to eventual winners Cape Town Spurs. Casric front runners spearheaded by the tricky Thulani Mbonabi could pose a threat against Dia Rora. Mbonambi can rattle the net with ease if given much room to man over. In the engine room they have the much travelled anchor man Ryan Rae and Sabelo Nyembe to boss the opposition. Rae has played for Highlands Parek and Maritzburg United in the DStv Premiership. This clash promised to be a humdinger.