Hotspurs eye promotion to Sasol league
It’s never comfortable at the top, says Hotspurs Women’s FC coach Yaasien Solomons, but they’re always happy to take the points following his side’s emphatic 8-1 victory in a Safa Cape Town Regional Women’s League fixture against a lacklustre UWC, in Bellville, at the weekend.
A four-goal haul by Zoey de Kock and one each by Dian Joshua, Jaelin Gabriels, Shandre Thompson and Isoby-Ray Ismail sealed it for Spurs against the students.
The Rocklands-based side are currently on top of the log in their group of nine teams, winning five out of six games and playing to a draw in one.
Solomons’ side share the top spot with Delft’s Mighty Ladies but have the edge thanks to an average goal difference in their favour.
Neighbours FC Tafelzucht are second on the log in their group, behind Hout Bay UFC, following a 3-2 victory in an away game against Invincible Cravenby, at the weekend.
Meanwhile, Solomons is cautiously optimistic about his side’s chances of gaining promotion to the Sasol league.
Of course, their latest victory does not hurt their chances but, he prefers to take it one game at a time, as Spurs will have their work cut out when they host Khayelitsha’s Newstars on Saturday.
“For me it’s all about the development of the game, especially women’s soccer,” said Solomons who had previously coached juniors at Beacon Spurs.
“Many talented girls fall away once they are too old to play with boys in age groups,” he said.
“It is something we have been discussing for a while. I’m in a group with coaches of various LFA’s and we felt somehow the women’s game needs to be given more attention. Currently I am assisted by two qualified Safa D-licensed coaches, Shanaaz Hendricks and my wife, Thaaniah.
“Our long-term goal is to consistently compete in the Sasol league as we have the players to do that,” he said.
To help raise much-needed funds, said Solomons, the club will have a boerewors and chips sale, on Friday May 28. Orders need to be placed beforehand and collected at the clubhouse at 12 Cessna Street, in Rocklands.
He said registration fees and transport remain a challenge and appealed to the community and local businesses to support the club.
Established in 2018, the club caters for girls from 11 years and older and has a team playing the Mitchell’s Plain LFA as well as the regional league.
“Our aim was to build a home or place of belonging for female soccer players,'' says club chairman and founder Frank Gabriels.
“When girls reach a certain age, they are no longer allowed to play with boys and are just left out or they give up on playing soccer,” he said.
● Training sessions are held on Mondays and Wednesdays for the senior team and Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 5.15pm, at Rocklands Rugby Field.
For more information, or if you can help, call 071 611 5672 or 060 429 0626.