Rude welcome for Nsingizini Hotspurs Ladies in CAF

(At Gaborone United Stadium, Courtesy of MulaSport and Century Fashions)

Sundowns……………….8

Daweti 8^th, 17^th, 18^th, Ludwig 11^th, Tholakele 14^th, 30^th, 45^th, Mugwara 76^th

Nsingizini……………….0

BOTSWANA – Debutants Nsingizini Hotspurs Ladies suffered a harrowing continental initiation after being handed an 8-0 defeat by giants Mamelodi Sundowns yesterday.

This was during a one-sided TotalEnergies Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women’s Champions League/COSAFA qualifier at Gaborone United Stadium.

Head of Delegation Aaron ‘Katalala’ Mavimbela watched helplessly alongside a modest crowd as Lelona Daweti and Refilwe Tholakele both netted hat-tricks for the South African champions.

Daweti broke the deadlock in the eighth minute before Isabella Ludwig doubled the lead three minutes later. Tholakele added a third in the 14^th minute, leaving goalkeeper Nompilo Dlamini demoralised.

Nsingizini technical bench made an early tactical substitution, replacing Noxolo Lukhele with Anele Ngwenya. However, Daweti completed her brace in the 17^th minute and struck again a minute later to seal her hat-trick.

Siphelele Mpanza attempted to breach Sundowns’ defence in the 25^th minute, but skipper Lebohang Ramalepe stood firm. Tholakele then netted her second half an hour in. New signee Lucia Gaonwe tried to pull a goal back, but her effort was easily dealt with by Sundowns goalkeeper Andile Dlamini. Tholakele completed her hat-trick on the stroke of half-time, sending Nsingizini into the break 7-0 down.

The second half saw Nsingizini lose midfielder Danai Bhobho to injury, with substitute Sandra Mugwara adding an eighth goal for Sundowns in the 76^th minute. Late introductions of Nomfundo Bhembe and Philisiwe Dlamini helped stabilise the Eswatini side, while defender Samkelisiwe Fakudze made key interventions to prevent further damage.

Nsingizini must now regroup quickly ahead of their second Group B fixture against Mozambique’s Costa do Sol tomorrow, before wrapping up the group stage against Silver Strikers on Tuesday.