We cannot afford to drop the standards – UWC coach

The students got off to a slow start, suffering defeat in the opening game but bounced back and qualified for the semi-finals of the tournament after winning their last two matches. The Capetonians ended top of Group A after defeating log leaders Herentals Queens 2-1 on Monday in Malawi.

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''I think the past three games tested us mentally and physically. We had to fight, at some point we had to compromise how we normally play. But now going into the second round we know it is knockout, so we can't drop the standard. We know the knockout stage comes with pressure, but we have two days to prepare for it - I think we will be ready,'' said Mbuli.

In Group A UWC was against 2022 Champions Green Buffaloes, returning FC Ongos as well as fellow debutants Herentals Queens. Mbuli says they had to fight their way out of a tough group.

''I think these groups prepared to play against us, first we had to fight and second game we had to fight. One thing we can take out of this group is that it prepared us mentally,'' added Mbuli.

After three energy-sapping fixtures in the group stages, an excited Mbuli says she believes her players still have enough in the tank, but also urged them to take the performance a notch higher.

 ''Obviously we are excited to go through to the next round. I was hoping one game would take us to the next game. I must compliment the opposition team, I think they really came at us. And credit to the players, I do believe we still have some tank in us, and I just want the team to take it a little bit further up,'' she concluded.

Mbuli is pleased that despite the tough tournament and playing under pressure, her team is improving with each game.

The UWC mentor says they have taken valuable lessons from the group stages which they believe will help them going forward.

As Group A winners, UWC will face the team that ends second in Group B, while Herentals Queens will come up against Group B winners in the semi-finals. Group B will be decided this afternoon (Tuesday, 20 August):

Young Buffaloes vs Group B leaders UD Lichinga, Gaborone United vs Ascent Academy. Lichinga has (4 points), Ascent (3 points), United (2 points) and Buffaloes (1 point).