Dludlu praises emphatic COSAFA opener

Banyana Banyana™s COSAFA Women™s Championship coach Simphiwe Dludlu showered her charges with praise following their 3-0 win over Angola in their opening game at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Wednesday. 

Goals from Refilwe Maseko, Sphumelele Shamase and Lithemba Sam-Sam meant South Africa cruised to victory to set the tone for the tournament. 

It went according to plan for Dludlu, who still wants to see her side more disciplined in the upcoming matches in Group A, where they will take on Mauritius and Mozambique to try and get to the next round.

The coach says her changes during the game were also strategic. 

"I think getting 3-0 out of this match just sums up the type of preparation we got, because today was the third day we get to play as a team after assembling on Sunday," said Dludlu.

"I'm impressed with how the team was tactically disciplined and organised because we never really got enough time to do our tactics in terms of defensive and attacking organisation, but because the players came in with match fitness from club level, it made it a bit easier for us to bring certain players that have existing pairings in their teams.

"Every substitution and every formation is intentional and is always necessary because we brought a team of 23 players and you are not 100 percent [sure] to say which combinations are going to work for you in the game.

"As the game progresses, you remember from training, this player can do this and convert and that was key for us to make sure which players already clocked in enough mileage, especially our flanks, and we needed to refurbish that with fresh legs to keep the momentum, and we didn't tamper with the back [defence].

"So those changes we made were very necessary for us to make sure that we are good for the next game, and going forward."

By Mazola Molefe