Young Mares coach decries lukewarm preparations
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday October 16, 2023 16:00
The Young Mares lost 4-1 to visiting Cameroon on Saturday afternoon in the second leg FIFA U-20 Women’s Cup preliminary round of qualifiers played at the Lobatse Sports Complex.
The team bowed out of the qualifying phase on a heavy 6-1 defeat on aggregate following 2-0 away loss in the first leg played in Cameroon a week ago. Motlhagodi has since called for a return of school sports and functional league structures across all regions. “The biggest problem in ladies is the league and school sports; that is the starting point.
With no league, the performance is affected and at club level there is coaching. These girls only get coaching when they are called for the national team. It is not enough, the technical skills are supposed to be at the teams not in the national team.
We are supposed to deal with tactics, the psychology at the national team but the fitness and the technical part should be done at the clubs,” Motlhagodi told SportMonitor after the weekend’s defeat. It took just a minute for Cameroon to open the scores and a miscommunication between defenders led to the goalkeeper being exposed and Suzie Mbianji slotted in the bottom corner to give the visitors the lead.
The home girls were, however, quicker to respond as Mbapeua Hangara slotted from close range to make it 1-1 on the third minute. The visitors were, however, dominant for the most parts of the first half.
With five minutes to the break, Naomi Eto benefited from a goalkeeping blunder and tucked in from close range as Cameroon regained the lead. Botswana trailed 2-1 at half time and needed five goals in the remaining 45 minutes to advance to the second round of qualifiers. The home side problems deepened as goalkeeper, Janice Lenyatso, was injured and replaced by Gosego Mokola at the start of the second half.
Four minutes into the half, Eto had a go with an out boot attempt but it was off target. On the 70th minute Eto centred a pass for Anne Felicia Enganeben and drilled the ball in to an open net to make it 3-1 for the visitors. Four minutes to full time, Mbianji danced through the Young Mares defence and beat the goalkeeper to the bottom corner to make it 4-1 for Cameroon.
The teams: Botswana: Janice Lenyatso (Gosego Mokola), Boitshepo Lombala (Brandy Bagayi), Carlifonia Sereo, Katlo Ditsile, Lebogang Dilelo, Jessica Maphonga, Mbapeua Hangara (Tlhompho Gabana), Neo Bulala, Neo Repito, Precious Tlhapi, Thando Boitshepo Cameroon: Cathy Biya, Vitoire Todou (Danielle Chedjou), Suzi Mbianji, Sophie Fa'a (Louise Wehiong), Sky Yemdji, Naomi Eto, Marlene Ewoudou, Mariane Maague, Clarisse Ambuba, Bernadette Mbele, Anne Felicia Enganeben (Chiritiane Meva)
Botswana 1 (Hangara third) Cameroon 4 (Mbianji first, 86th, Eto 40th, Enganeben 70th)