CWCL COSAFA Qualifiers: Sundowns Ladies should bring A-game

Mamelodi Sundowns’ Ladies coach Godfrey Sapula has outlined how he wants his side to approach the CAF Women’s Champions League: COSAFA Qualifiers getting underway on Friday in South Africa.

The Sundowns legend called for his girls to bring their A-game to the qualifiers and treat all opponents with utmost respect. Sapula’s side will kick-start the tournament with Malawi’s Ntopwa Ladies at AW Miller Stadium in Johannesburg on Friday afternoon.

Ahead of the tournament, the former midfielder cautioned his players against underrating some opponents.

“Sometimes you should not move into this tournament and say: ‘this game is easy and this game is difficult,” he told COSAFA media.

“The fact that there are other teams that are emerging signifies the growth of women’s football in the COSAFA region. It is no longer that we are expecting this team and that team. It means that also from those countries, competition is very high.”

Sapula highlighted how their performance in the Hollywoodbets Super League would impact their prospects of winning the COSAFA title.

“We have been using the domestic league to prepare for COSAFA [Qualifiers],” he added.

“We know the areas of improvement, the things we needed to work on and improve so that we go to the next stage from our group and make sure we can go on and win the COSAFA [title.]”

“We make sure to bring our A game so that we give ourselves a realistic opportunity to qualify for the CAF Champions League.”

Sundowns will also face Zesco Ndola Girls of Zambia and Namibia’s Beauties FC in the group.

While Ndola and Beauties are debutants in the competition, the two-time champions Sundowns can expect solid opposition from Ntopwa who will make their second appearance in the qualifiers.

Full draw:

GROUP A: Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Ntopwa FC (Malawi), Beauties FC (Namibia), Zesco Ndola Girls (Zambia)

GROUP B: Gaborone United Ladies FC (Botswana), Young Buffaloes (Eswatini), Kick4Life (Lesotho)

GROUP C: Herentals Queens (Zimbabwe), CD Costa do Sol (Mozambique), Olympic de Moroni (Comoros)