14 Mar 2022

 

Zodiac Collabo Girls lost their reign of Lobatse International Women’s Day (IWD) Football Tournament to BDF XI on Saturday.

In a tightly contested and well attended final, the uncompromising Matebele defeated Mazothi a Bandleng 1-0 to become the first team to snatch the IWD trophy from the grasp of the Collabo Girls.

BDF goalkeeper, Lesego Moeng scored the winner from the spot kick after the Collabo Girls defence committed a foul inside the penalty area in the first half.

The Collabo Girls’ efforts for an equaliser in the second half were repulsed by the visitors’ stubborn defence.

Since inception of the tournament as annual celebration of the IWD in Lobatse, Collabo Girls had bossed the competition.

They won the first two editions in 2019 and 2020, before the competition was suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic last year.

When the third edition was finally played, the Collabo Girls showed their determination to make it a hat trick of successes by drubbing Genesis Ladies from Tlokweng 5-0 in the semifinals.

In a one sided encounter, Brilliant Jonas hooked the Collabo Girls in front with a fourth minute goal, before Abueng Moalosi punished some sloppy defending to double the lead midway through the first half.

It was one way traffic with coach Edwin Motseothata’s team scoring three more goals through Patricia Motingwa, Katlo Ditsile and Sethunya Moalosi in the second half.

BDF, on one hand, had to work hard to beat Jwaneng Galaxy 2-1 through goals by Bame Ngenda and Nancy Ntshwabi in an evenly contested semifinal encounter.

The Galaxy team, which was only formed a few months ago, was not overawed by the more fancied BDF team. The Galaxy Ladies returned to Jwaneng with bronze medals after beating Genesis 1-0 in the third place playoff.

BDF Ladies midfielder Masego Montsho was voted player of the tournament after dictating proceedings in the semifinal and final matches.

Patricia Motingwa of the Collabo Girls won the top goalscorer award by virtue of finishing the tournament with more assists compared to other players who registered their name on the score sheet.

The goalkeeper of the tournament award went to Karaboyaone Masutlhe of the Collabo Girls.

The tournament was organised by Collabo Girls in conjunction with Lobatse district gender office and department of youth empowerment, sports and cultural development.

Lobatse district gender officer Tshephang Moleofhe said IWD celebration was one of the strategy to sensitise the public about issues affecting women in the society.

She said the event provided platform to encourage women to network and participate in all spheres of life.

“It is also an opportunity for women to fully participate and share ideas about gender and development issues, and to improve their social, economic and political situations.

Furthermore, it gives an opportunity to review what they had achieved in their struggle for equality and development,” she said in a brief speech to spectators.  ENDS