Soccer
Banyana finish on a high
2012-12-10 18:40
Joseph Mkhonza (Gallo Images)
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Johannesburg - South Africa's women finished off a highly successful 2012 football campaign by beating Botswana 3-0 in an international friendly played at the Moruleng Stadium near Rustenburg on Monday.
The SA national senior women's team was 2-0 up at half-time, in a match staged to mark the North West government's campaign to raise awareness against the abuse of women and children.
Mamelodi Sundowns striker Andiswe Mgcoyi opened the scoring from a tight angle on the left hand side of the Botswana penalty area in the 11th minute.
Mgcoyi's club-mate, midfielder Refiloe Jane, celebrated her 17th national cap by scoring her first goal for Banyana Banyana, by way of a header from a corner-kick in the 22nd minute.
Second half substitute, striker Noko Matlou, made her presence felt scoring from close range 15 minutes into the second half.
SA national coach Joseph Mkhonza used the match played in hot conditions, to give as many players as much game time as possible with midfielders in Presocious Matabologa and Maile Makola both earning their first international caps.
This was the first time the Southern African neighbours had met since last year's All-Africa Games qualifiers, which saw Botswana stun the South Africans 1-0 in Polokwane before Banyana crushed their opponents 4-0 on an artificial pitch in Gaborone to advance to the African showpiece held in Mozambique in September 2011.
The South Africans, without the services of captain Amanda Dlamini and Amanda Sister, dominated all phases of the 90 minutes of play.
The players will get a well-deserved break over the festive season and return refreshed next year to prepare for the 12-nation Cyprus Women's Cup tournament to be held in March.