CAFWCL COSAFA Qualifiers: Pheresi’s heroics earn Gaborone United Ladies maiden title

Goalkeeper Tlamelo Pheresi’s heroics pulled Gaborone United Ladies from the jaws of defeat to a maiden title in the COSAFA regional qualifying tournament for the CAF Women’s Champions League (CAFWCL) on Sunday.

Gaborone United overcame ZESCO Ndola Girls 4-3 on post-match penalties following a 1-1 draw. The Zambian champions had dragged themselves into the game in open play with Fridah Kabwe scoring a late equalizer to cancel out Lesego Radiakanyo’s 45^th minute strike for Gaborone.

Eventually, the game spilled over into extra-time then the penalty lotteries at AW Muller Stadium in Johannesburg where Pheresi made three consecutive saves. First, the Gaborone number one denied her ZESCO counterpart Hazel Nali, then saved Jackline Chomba and Vast Phiri’s shots.

Thereafter, Gaborone, who had stared defeat in the face after Nali had saved Yaone Modise and Lone Gaofetoge’s back-to-back spot kicks, were handed a lifeline by Pheresi’s three straight stops.

Thereafter, Nancy Baeltsi, Serati Modisenyane and Radiakanyo converted all their last three attempts to seal the dramatic victory.

Gaborone went ahead through Radiakanyo’s 45^th minute strike, as she reacted the fastest in the box to sneak in a shot into the net, leaving ZESCO goalkeeper stranded.

Khaled Niyozima’s girls held on to their slender lead visibly hoping to wind down the clock instead of adding an insurance goal.

The girls from Botswana were to regret their approach as ZESCO found their way into the contest.

Just as was the case in the semifinal match against fancied Mamelodi Sundowns, it was Kabwe who dragged the Zambians from the depths of despair with a late equalizer. However, last season’s finalists kept their nerve when spot kicks decided the champion and a precious berth in Africa’s continental showpiece for women’s club football.

The triumph must have come as a relief for Gaborone who lost to the University of the Western Cape FC in last year’s final staged in Malawi.

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