Local women’s soccer team takes on international outfit Osnabrucker in fast-paced match
A fast-paced match of under-17 women’s soccer took place last Wednesday as the Germany-based Osnabrücker Sport Club clashed against EC Cluster 2 at the Jan Smuts Stadium.
The visit is part of an exchange programme that comes out of the standing cooperation between the Eastern Cape and the German state of Lower Saxony.
EC Cluster 2 comprised team members from Amathole and O.R. Tambo Distict Municipalities and Buffalo City Metro.
The game was won by Osnabrücker, with a score of 10 – 4. This was also Cluster 2’s first international soccer match.
Cluster 2 coach Lelethu Nguta said it was a good match, although the opening minutes of the game were tough.
“We were not in form in the beginning but we picked up and started to implement the strategy we agreed on. In the second half, we came out stronger.
“This is a group of talented young ladies,” Nguta said.
The Germans attacked quickly, scoring six goals within the first 20 minutes of the first-half. The home team quickly recovered and put their defense strategy in place, scoring three goals of their own.
The second half saw the home team bounce back and keep the Germans on their toes, only conceding one goal to them.
Department of sport, recreation, arts and culture (Dsrac) acting general manager Bafuni Makubalo said players should ideally start playing the game from primary school level.
“We have cast our net wide when looking for players as they come from all over the province.
“Although the team selection is done by the federations, we are trying to get the level of our players as high as possible,” Makubalo said.
SAFA provincial secretary Isaac Klaas said the selection of girls comes from the rural development areas.
“We are happy with the level of the game and giving them exposure to a high level of coaching.
“We would like to encourage a women’s regional league and also in schools,” Klaas said.
