Mamelodi Sundowns will be among the favourites at the inaugural TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League l COSAFA Qualifier and this week sounded a warning to their rivals over their potential with some emphatic victories in the domestic Women’s Super League.
While many of the competing teams have been idle during the COVID-19 pandemic with sport on hold in their respective countries, Sundowns have weathered the storm well with the local South African competition able to be played.
And Sundowns have made it count, preparing for the COSAFA regional qualifier with competitive games that have highlighted their quality.
They travelled to the Free State to meet Tsunami Queens and came away with an 8-0 victory this past weekend, before they had a midweek fixture with University of Johannesburg that ended 2-0 in their favour.
Those two results keep the side on top of the Super League table with 28 points from a possible 30 so far this campaign, having won nine and drawn one of their 10 games. They have scored 35 goals in that time and conceded only four all season.
Downs have also received a significant boost to their squad, first with the return of seasoned Banyana Banyana striker Rhoda Mulaudzi, who has played abroad in recent years.
They also have experienced midfielder Lerato Kgasago back from an injury-ravaged start to the campaign and her presence will be a huge boost for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League l COSAFA Qualifier that will be staged in Durban between August 26-September 4.
Sundowns are the top seeds in Group A and must finish in the top two to advance to the semifinals, coming up against Botswana’s Double Action Ladies, Manzini Wanderers from Eswatini and Lesotho Defence Force in their pool.
Only the winning team in the competition will book a place at the continental finals in Egypt later this year.
“What we just need to do is to go out there and win our group. By winning our group it gives us a fair chance to be able to put one foot into Cairo,” coach Jerry Tshabalala says.
“I believe the girls are looking forward to this one. We have been given a chance to go out there to showcase our talent as Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies and to see if we can’t emulate our men’s team to bring the star back home.”
Sundowns are back in action this weekend in the Super League when they host Richmond United. Their opponents are 10th in the 14-team league.
