Defender Noko Matlou is back in action after missing three club matches and a Banyana Banyana friendly due to injury.
The Limpopo-born player was last on the field in the goalless draw against Espanyol (18 March 2023) in the Spanish Second Division, and suffered a small tear of muscle on her abductor.
While recuperating from her injury, the SD Eibar Women star was absent for the 1-0 win over CD Juan Grande (26 March 2023), and the subsequent 1-all draws against Albacete (2 April 2023) and Rayo Vallecano (16 April 2023).
In between, Matlou withdrew from the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana squad that travelled to Serbia (10 April 2023) for an international friendly, which South Africa lost 2-3.
But this past weekend (Sunday, 23 April 2023) she was given the all-clear by her club to play against Cacereño and lasted the full match in the 2-1 win. With the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand around the corner (from 20 July – 20 August) no player wants to miss out.
“It feels great to be back on the field again, I was a bit worried because I didn’t know how long I will be out for, but fortunately it was only three weeks. I am also glad I was able to put in 90 minutes under my belt,” said an elated Matlou from her base in Spain.
The win gave her side renewed hope of gaining automatic promotion back to the Liga F following their relegation at the end of last season.
They are currently second on the table with 48 points – seven behind log leaders Barcelona B, who cannot be promoted as they have a team in the Liga F.
If Barcelona wins the league title, the second-placed team (currently SD Eibar) gets automatic promotion, then those in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th positions will battle it out in the play-offs for one spot to join the promoted side (2nd place).
There are three games remaining to the end of the season, and three teams behind second-placed SD Eibar – Deportivo la Coruna (3rd), CA Osasuna (4th) and SE AEM (5th) – all are 46 points, are piling on the pressure, fighting for either automatic promotion or the play-offs. Also, the other teams in the top eight bracket – including Dux Logrono (41 points) and Cacereño (44 points) who are eighth and seventh respectively – still stand a chance of promotion.
SD Eibar cannot afford to slip up if they are to achieve their mission.
“I believe we are on the right track, the win this past weekend gave us a huge boost, and it’s now in our hands, but we can’t afford to drop any points,” added Matlou.
The 2008 CAF African Woman Player of the Year is aware that the road ahead will be a very difficult one.
In the three remaining matches, they face 14th and 15th placed Real Oviedo (29 April) and Cordoba (7 May) respectively – both are fighting against relegation.
The final match of the season will be away to Granada (14 May) who lie sixth on the table and want to see themselves in the play-offs.
Granada is on 45 points, just one ahead of Cacereño who are seventh.
In the corresponding first round fixtures, SD Eibar defeated Real Oviedo and Cordoba by 1-0 margins, and were held to a 1-all draw by Granada.
“Of course, the season has not been easy and we don’t expect a smooth run in. We are facing teams that have their own challenges, so we need to be at our best. We must focus on us, not on them,” said the former Ma-Indies player in South Africa’s elite women’s league – the Hollywoodbets Super League.
The 37-year old defender made her Banyana Banyana debut in 2006, starting off as a forward.
She was instrumental in helping the Senior Women’s National team being crowned continental champions in July last year – beating Morocco 2-1 in the final.
Matlou will be hoping for a double celebration come the end of the season – returning to the Liga F in Spain as well as securing a spot in Desiree Ellis’ final squad of 23 players to represent South Africa at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Should she get the nod, this will be her fourth major global women’s football tournament after the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, as well as the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
By Matlhomola Morake
