Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies dominate the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers Group Stage Best 11 which has been announced by the tournament’s Technical Study Group (TSG) after the conclusion of the round robin stage.
The Brazilians boast five players on the list, while Godfrey Sapula has been named the Best Coach for this phase. Fellow semi-finalists Gaborone United Ladies of Botswana were able to produce four players in the starting 11 and one on the substitutes bench, with Mozambique’s Costa do Sol and Herentals Queens of Zimbabwe supplying one each in the first 11.
Andile Dlamini is the pick of the goalkeepers after three clean sheets, with
Banyana ba Style captain, Lebohang Ramalepe leading from the front as the preferred right back, and vice-captain Bambanani Mbane is at left centre back – the latter has scored a hattrick of goals.
Boitumelo Rabale comes in at central midfield and Refilwe Tholakele is one of the forwards following her three strikes in the competition.
Sundowns Ladies stormed into the last four with an impressive three wins in as any matches – and are yet to concede.
They have scored 11 goals – shared among seven players: Mbane (3), Tholakele (3), Karabo Makhurubetshi (1), Nthabiseng Majiya (1), Munashe Sandra Mugwara (1), Rabale (1), Ramalepe (1).
Gaborone United Ladies are represented by Lone Gaofetoge (centre back), Lesego Radiokanyo (central midfielder), Maungo Maponya (winger) and Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse (forward) – the latter is the current leading goal scorer in the tournament on five strikes followed by compatriot Maponya with four goals.
Completing the rest of the starting 11 are Alice Moyo of Herentals FC (left back) and Costa do Sol’s Eunencia Machava (winger).
Zesco Ndola Girls, who are one of the semi-finalists, managed to have two players on the substitutes’ bench of 11.
With Thursday (28 August) being a rest day, action at the regional tournament resumes on Friday (29 August) with the two semi-finals played on the day.
First up will be last year’s finalists Gaborone United Ladies taking on Costa do Sol at 12h00, while two time champions Sundowns Ladies hosts Zesco Ndola Girls at 3pm.
The latter two teams will be meeting for the second time in the competition, with the previous result going the way of the Brazilians (1-0) thanks to a Rabale goal in the 19th minute.
The final will be played on Sunday (31 August).
All the matches are held at the UJ AW Muller Stadium in Auckland Park.
| 16 | Andile Dlamini (GK) | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | South Africa |
| 12 | Bambanani Mbane (LCB) | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | South Africa |
| 8 | Lone Gaofetoge (RCB) | Gaborone United Ladies | Botswana |
| 12 | Alice Moyo (LB) | Herentals Queens | Zimbabwe |
| 2 | Lebohang Ramalepe (RB) | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | South Africa |
| 10 | Boitumelo Rabale (LCM) | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | South Africa |
| 26 | Lesego Radiokanyo (RCM) | Gaborone United Ladies | Botswana |
| 15 | Eunencia Machava (LW) | Costa do Sol | Mozambique |
| 7 | Maungo Maponya (RW) | Gaborone United Ladies | Botswana |
| 20 | Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse (LF) | Gaborone United Ladies | Botswana |
| 24 | Refilwe Tholakele (RF) | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | South Africa |
| Coach | Godfrey Sapula | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | South Africa |
CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers Group Stage Best 11:
Substitutes:
| 14 | Avell Chitundu | Zesco Ndola Girls | Zambia |
| 7 | Eneless Phiti | Zesco Ndola Girls | Zambia |
| 6 | Simile Marks | Young Buffaloes | Eswatini |
| 21 | Millicent Hiakum | Beauties FC | Namibia |
| 6 | Marie Ramasandrasana | Olympique De Moroni | Comoros |
| 7 | Molemo Mokhothu | Kick4Life | Lesotho |
| 11 | Morelife Nyagumbo | Herentals Queens | Zimbabwe |
| 17 | Salima January | Ntopwa FC | Malawi |
| 1 | Tiamelo Pheresi | Gaborone United Ladies | Botswana |
By Matlhomola Morake
