Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies begin the defence of their CAF Women’s Champions League title with a tricky affair against Nigeria’s Bayelsa Queens, who are making their debut in the competition.
The Brazilians will be eying maximum points when they face the West Africans on Monday, 31 October 2022 at Stade de Marrakech in Marrakech, Morocco.
The South Africans have completed their preparations after arriving in the North African country on Thursday.
Sundowns Ladies won the treble last year – and were eager to repeat the feat, but have already lost out on the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA qualifiers – a tournament won by Green Buffaloes of Zambia.
“Defending the titles we won last year was our major aim for this season. Thus far, we have won the Hollywoodbets Super League title and we are fully prepared to fight again for the continental trophy. Although we lost out in the COSAFA final, we realized our mistakes and we are ready to rectify them as quickly as possible,” Sundowns Ladies head coach told the club’s website.
Banyana ba Style are not underestimating any team in the eight-club competition, but they intend starting off on a positive note.
“We have to stamp our authority in the opening game because it goes a long way in signalling our intentions early enough. As a team, we must fight together both on and off the pitch against Yenagoa-based Bayelsa Queens. We will be treating each game as a final because that is what champions do. To successfully defend our crown, our defending, pressing, and finishing must be spot on at all times,” added Tshabalala.
His sentiments were echoed by captain Zanele Nhlapho.
Despite a gruelling season in the 2022 Hollywoodbets Super League campaign, Nhlapho believes that the team’s winning mentality and resilience will win them the title against stiff opposition.
“The tough opposition we have faced in the Hollywoodbets Super League has given us a preview of what to expect in Morocco. Several teams will be looking to become the first to score against us and even dethrone us. We are well aware that we will be facing some of the best women’s teams across the continents. Several new teams will be participating; therefore, we will have to be spot-on with our tactics throughout the competition. We are not taking any team for granted and we need to be vigilant at all times in Morocco,” said Nhlapho.
Last year Banyana ba Style lifted this trophy when they defeated Ghana’s Hasaacas Ladies 2-0 to be crowned inaugural winners of the competition.
One of the stalwarts in that campaign was midfielder Oratile Mokoena and she believes they have what it takes to repeat the feat.
Sundowns Ladies are in Group B alongside Nigeria’s Bayelsa Queens, Egypt’s Wadi Degla and Congo’s TP Mazembe.
“The preparations for Morocco have been great thanks to the great intensity of the Hollywoodbets Super League. As the defending champion of the tournament, every team will want to make a name for themselves by becoming the first team to defeat us. Thus, we need to approach games differently to avoid any surprises. We are aware of the stakes in Morocco, and we are not taking anything for granted,” said the Ga-Rankuwa-born midfielder.
“We are fully aware of the new sides that will be competing in this year’s edition. Although I do not know much about them, the technical team has been very supportive by evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. There is a lot of pressure on us to defend our title and we are ready for the challenge. The only thing that can stop us is ourselves.”
CAF Women’s Champions League Group Draw
Group A:
AS FAR (Morocco, hosts), Simba Queens (Tanzania), Green Buffaloes (Zambia), and Determine Girls (Liberia).
Group B:
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa, defending champions), Bayelsa Queens (Nigeria), Wadi Degla (Egypt), and TP Mazembe (DR Congo).
By Matlhomola Morake
