South Africa under-17 girls football team (Bantwana) strolled to a 12-0 win over neighbours Namibia on Saturday afternoon at the Cosafa Under-17 Championship in Malawi.
The Group A win saw South Africa progress to the semifinal of the tournament, which is taking place as part of the Region 5 Games.
The spoonful crowd at Bingu National Stadium had barely a feel of the seats when Bantwana opened the scoring through Gositang Motshegwe’s second-minute strike.
SOUTH AFRICA UNDER 17 WERE PREPARED
Sinazo Ntshota made it 2-0 two minutes later before Ntando Phahla struck in the 13th minute.
Olwethu Sosibo scored in the 31st and 64th minutes, and Nobuhle Mdelwa in the 32nd and 48th minutes.
The other goals came from Adriella Mibe (43rd and 46th minutes), Julia Goncalves (71st minutes), Tatiana Correia (81st minute) and Naledi Nkosi (89th minute).
In a post-match interview, Bantwana coach Victoria Mbatha said: “We were very prepared for the game, but I didn’t think we would score so many goals. The thing is that we do not underrate the opposition.”
Namibia coach Eveline Noreses said his charges lost the game by such a big margin because they were not match-fit as they were a late inclusion to the tournament.
It meant Bantwana have now netted 16 goals in two games after having opened the tournament with a 4-1 whitewash of Malawi during the week.
EARLIER MATCH
In an earlier match played at the same venue, the Botswana under-17 girls’ team vented its anger on debutant Comoros.
Namibia hammered the islanders 8-0 on Saturday morning. The girls from Botswana had started the tournament with a 5-0 loss to holders Zambia at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Thursday.
Lotang Ebineng scored a hat-trick, with the other goals coming from Kalto Distile, Mbapeua Hangara, Palesa Mokopakgosi, Katlo Ditsile and Lebogang Dielo.
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