With the weekend’s highs of winning the Engen Knockout Challenge still lingering, Cape Town Roses have another task to handle, as they prepare for a doubleheader against RV United and Azzurro Academy, over the long weekend.
The Gugulethu-based side, well-known for producing a rich history of talented female footballers in the country, such as the Cesane twins in Banyana Banyana and the TS Galaxy Queens striker, Lithemba Samsam, already met RV United in the semi-finals of the knockout challenge, at Erica Park Stadium, in Belhar, this past Sunday, June 9.
Roses were victorious with a 2-1 win to seal the deal. It was enough for them to go on and lift the Engen trophy for the third-time in a row, after beating Dangerous Heroes 5-0 in the final.
The tripple Western Cape champions, Roses were ruthless in the ladies under-20 section. They finished the tournament with a total of 23 goals in six matches, which include an 8-1 win against Goal Hunters in the group stages.
RV United finished on 20 goals, while Dangerous Heroes cumulated 16 goals.
In the boys’ under-18 section, finalists, Cape Town City, Cape Town Spurs and Valhalla United finished the tournament with nine goals, while the two-time champions, Stellenbosch, scored eight goals in six matches.
Cape Town Roses continued to make history, in front of an electric crowd that braved the winter breeze, at Erica Park. Not only were they undefeated throughout the tournament, they also scooped individual awards.
Speedster, Siyamthanda Macingwana scored a hattrick in the final to walk away with the player of the match.
Lisakhanya Situlweni scored a brace in the final, before she was crowned the player of the tournament, the striker of the tournament and the top goal scorer of the tournament.
Head coach, Xolile Madikane scooped the coach of the tournament for the second time, after winning it in 2022.
Inspired by Real Madrid midfielder, Jude Bellingham and Banyana Banyana midfielder, Noxolo Cesane, Situlweni, from Gugulethu, scored 10 goals in five appearances for Roses, in the Engen.
“I am happy. We played well. My team communicates well with me. They tell me when I do good and when I need to improve,” said the 14-year-old Situlweni.
Coach Madikane said Macingwana and Situlweni have big shoes to fill this season after two of their teammates, Samsam and Jade Jones joined TS Galaxy Queens and Magic Ladies earlier this year.
School teacher, Madikane highlighted his team’s success to the hard work at training, coupled by the passion of the kids, and the organisational skills of the team during and after matches.
“It was up to teamwork and the kids mastered it. They worked hard. They don’t give up and they don’t panic. If we tell ourselves we are going to play our game, we play our game. If we lose while we play our game, we will go back and work on it. Cape Town Roses are a very ‘coachable’ team. The kids listen,” he said.
In the final, Madikane’s Roses kicked off the game relatively even with Dangerous Heroes. In the opening 10 minutes, however, they would find themselves under-pressure, defending the runs and dangerous passes of Agatha Salmani, Onalo Masumpa and Olwethu Thawuse of Heroes.
Madikane said they had to close a gap that was between his midfielders and the defenders, in order to take control of the final, against Heroes.
“It was a matter of a coaching point on Sunday. My defenders had a huge gap between the midfielders. The Heroes’ players were pacing towards us. The moment we closed the gap, we controlled the game,” said Madikane.
In the previous two Engen outings to Gauteng for the champ-of-champs, Cape Town Roses lost in the finals on penalties.
While the preparations to play against the country’s best continues for later this year, Roses shift their focus to the Sasol provincial women’s league.
Roses are the log leaders in stream B after five wins and one loss in six matches. With 15 points ahead, it will be a top of the table clash between Roses and RV United (13 points) at UWC on Saturday, before they host Azzurro Academy (7 points), at the NY49 Sports Complex, on Monday, June 17.
Matches kick-off at 3pm.
