One of the most refreshing stories of the Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies season occurred when Assistant Coach Agnes Nkosi took charge of the team for the COSAFA qualifiers of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League in Durban back in September.
While she expressed her shock at the unexpected responsibility she was entrusted with, what followed was a superb exhibition of lightning-fast and devastating counter-attacking football as the Brazilians bubbled and dazzled under her guidance while Head Coach Jerry Tshabalala watched on behind the scenes. The team registered an incredible 22 goals across five games in the competition and conceded just once to secure a historic ticket to the maiden edition of the continent’s premier women’s tournament.
Coach Nkosi who attained a CAF C coaching licence earlier this year was also presented with another opportunity in the dugout just recently. During the last Hollywoodbets Super League match against Durban Ladies, she was constantly striding down the touchline and dishing out tactical instructions to the team as The Brazilians smashed three past their tricky opponents.
As Banyana Ba Style prepares to depart the country for Egypt later this week, Coach Nkosi is expected to be in the dugout as an assistant to Coach Tshabalala. The Sundowns Ladies defender and former captain believes that she is happy to be an inspiration to women across South Africa and beyond.
“It is such a great opportunity to be given a chance to showcase my talent as a woman. I am very proud of how far I have come and I am hoping to inspire more women in football and across other disciplines they find themselves in. I am proof that gender cannot prevent one from becoming what they want to be. At the end of the day, it comes down to the application of one’s self in whatever he or she is doing. Again, I am very thrilled at the prospect of making more history as a woman.” said an excited Coach Nkosi.
The maiden edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League begins on the 5th of November with the final scheduled for the 19th of November. Masandawana is pitted against Kenyan side Vihiga Queens, ASFAR Club of Morocco and Nigeria’s Rivers Angels in a highly competitive Group B. The Brazilians will open their continental campaign with a tasty fixture against Kenya’s Vihiga on the 6th of November and Coach Nkosi believes the team is capable of starting the tournament with a victory.
“As you have seen from the recent games we have played in the Hollywoodbets Super League, the girls are ready to stamp their authority in the CAF Champions League as quickly as possible. In the last two or three games, we have faced very tough opposition and we expect such challenges from our Group opponents in Egypt. One thing I can tell you is that the motivation within the camp is high. During our training sessions, the girls are always giving their best. I am very certain that the team is ready for the challenge ahead. We are going to Egypt to represent the Mamelodi Sundowns brand, our fans, the nation of South Africa and the Southern African region. As I work with Coach Jerry and the technical team, I believe that we can bring the highly coveted title home” concluded Coach Nkosi.
Domestically, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies have enjoyed an incredible run in this season’s Hollywoodbets Super League. After 20 matches, The Brazilians have won an astonishing 19 games and have drawn just once, while scoring an impressive 70 goals and conceding just nine in the process. A mammoth goal difference of +61 further underscores the team’s absolute hegemony this term. This domestic dominance means Sundowns Ladies have established themselves as one of the nailed-on favourites to dazzle at the inaugural edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt.
Join us as we wish our brilliant Ladies team all the best as they embark on their quest to conquer the African continent.
