Roses dominate girls only soccer tournament

fuad Esack|Published 1 year ago

Cape Town Roses’ Emihle Manzana, centre, closed in by Ubuntu’s Miah Messier, left, and Imaan Dollie during their sides’ under-14 Dream Cup final. Picture: Fuad Esack

Gugulethu’s Cape Town Roses dominated this weekend’s girls’ under-14 and senior women’s Dream Cup soccer tournament, qualifying for the finals in both divisions in the competition held at William Herbert sports ground, in Wynberg.

The competition, now in its fourth year and hosted by Wynberg-based Spurs Women’s FC, featured 18 senior sides and five under-14 teams.

When it comes to girls’ and women’s football in the city, especially cup competitions, Roses have long been a force to be reckoned with, having won numerous titles under the guidance of founder and head coach, Xolile Madikane, including the Cape Town leg of last year’s Engen Knockout Challenge.

Cape Town Roses’ Lisakhanya Situlweni and Ubuntu's Keira Barnard battle for possession during their sides’ under-14 Dream Cup final match. Picture: Fuad Esack

Cape Town Roses’ Emihle Manzana catches Ubuntu’s Miah Messier on the wrong foot during her side’s 3-0 win. Picture: Fuad Esack

Cape Town Roses’ Lisakhanya Situlweni, right, and Ubuntu’s Keira Barnard challenge for the ball. Tall and strong, and difficult to control when on the ball, especially in front of goal, Lisakhanya was also named the tournament’s under-14 Diski Queen. Picture: Fuad Esack

Dream Cup under-14 Diski Queen, Cape Town Roses’ Lisakhanya Situlweni. Picture: Fuad Esack

Cape Town Roses’ under-14s celebrate victory following a 3-0 win against Ubuntu FC to lift the Dream Cup trophy. Picture: Fuad Esack

At the weekend, Madikane took charge of the under-14s who beat newcomers, Ubuntu FC’s girls’ side, 3-0 in the final while Roses’ senior side, guided by coach Sibongiseni “Lhalha” Khamlana, lost 1-0 against Rondebosch outfit, Magic Ladies FC, in their cup final match.

Cape Town Roses coach, Xolile Madikane, leads his charges off the pitch at the half-time break during their Dream Cup final match against Ubuntu. Picture: Fuad Esack

Khamlana, a former player who hanged up her boots in 2022 and is current head coach at CPUT, switched to coaching after volunteering as a schools’ sports coach and assisting Madikani, deputy principal at Lwazi Primary School in Gugulethu, during her free time.

Cape Town Roses senior coach, Sibongiseni “Lhalha” Khamlana, all smiles after collecting her coach-of-the-tournament award at the post-match presentation. Picture: Fuad Esack

Despite the result not going her way, Khamlana says she’s thankful for the opportunity and lessons learnt.

“This was my first cup competition as I’m always assisting. It was a great tournament and I’m happy we made it to the finals,” said Khamlana, who was named the Dream Cup’s coach-of-the tournament.

“I am honoured to have participated in the tournament to gain exposure as a coach. I have learnt and gained so much experience.

“It’s important that we create more opportunities for girls, take care of community clubs, do more to develop the game at grassroots level and invite more sponsors to come on board,” she said.

Winning coach, Magic Ladies FC’s Astrid van Kesteren, a firm believer that more women should be involved in all aspects of the game, agrees.

“It's important to develop girls’ soccer because there are so much more opportunities now than previously, to be scouted to play football or get a football scholarship to study overseas. The sky is the limit,” she said.

Magic Ladies FC striker and the tournament’s top goalscorer, Jade Jones, left, clears the ball under pressure from CT Roses’ Sonika Mzingeli during their sides’ Dream Cup final match. Sonika was named defender-of-the tournament. Picture: Fuad Esack

Magic Ladies FC’s Zoe van der Ross looks to spread the ball with Roses’ Hanna Manuel closing in. Picture: Fuad Esack

Senior Dream Cup Diski Queen and defender of the tournament, Cape Town Roses’ Sonika Mzingeli. Picture: Fuad Esack

Tournament director Winston Zeederberg also underscored the importance of girls’ competitions, saying the aim is to establish a platform for players to showcase their talents and to have a tournament to call their own.

“It is important that we have events like this, because here you will find raw diamonds, which may need a little work but have the potential to shine bright. We must continue to create these opportunities in order to grow the women's game even further,” he said.