Andisiwe Mgcoyi has continued to bask in the euphoria of clinching the Golden Boot Award at the recently concluded COSAFA zonal qualifier, which Sundowns Ladies claimed in spectacular style.
The Brazilians beat Double Action Ladies 2-0 to secure their second COSAFA zonal qualifier title and book a place at the prestigious CAF Women’s Champions League in Ivory Coast in November.
Despite being sidelined for a significant portion of this season’s Hollywoodbets Super League due to injuries, the veteran striker showcased her brilliance at the regional tournament, proving that age is just a number.
The 35-year-old striker, who netted once in the 4-0 victory against Eswatini’s Young Buffaloes and secured a double against Mozambique’s CD Costa do Sol, couldn’t contain her excitement when her name was announced as the winner of the keenly contested accolade.
“I didn’t see that coming and I was shocked when my name was called because several players were tied on three goals. I consider it a life’s blessing when you aren’t actively pursuing something and it comes to you. This award holds immense significance for me and I feel truly blessed. Here’s to many more victories this season,” Mgcoyi stated.
Andisiwe also emphasized her motivating factor for participating in the COSAFA tournament, stating, “I am one of those players who think ahead of most things. While we were playing the Hollywoodbets Super League, my mind was already on COSAFA because the title remained our only ticket to the CAF Women’s Champions League. I am already thinking about the other two competitions now and my mindset is focused on planning for the future. That doesn’t mean I don’t care about the present, but my aspirations extend to the broader horizon of future opportunities.”
The veteran striker was among a highly competitive group of players who each concluded the tournament with three goals. Her teammates Lelona Daweti, Chuene Morifi and Tiisetso Makhubela were part of this impressive achievement. Additionally, Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse and Lesego Radiakanyo, both from Double Action Ladies, shared in this impressive feat.
The Masandawana striker, who also coaches the Sundowns youth development girls’ teams, believes that the COSAFA win will set the tone for the season ahead. She stated, “Now that we have reclaimed the regional title, we need to build on this victory as we move forward. Thankfully, we have several games in the Hollywoodbets Super League to prepare us for the massive continental battle ahead. Much like the COSAFA competition, the CAF Champions League is another tournament we are eagerly anticipating, especially given how we lost last year’s final.”
With her three goals scored in this year’s competition, Andisiwe Mgcoyi has now accumulated a total of nine goals at the COSAFA zonal qualifiers. She scored twice in last year’s competition and four goals during the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2021.
