The African Connections women’s soccer side from Grahamstown travelled to East London on Saturday when they took part in the provincial Absa women’s soccer league play-offs.
The Grahamstown side finished top of the Cacadu District and took part in the provincial play-offs as the Cacadu champions.
The African Connections women’s soccer side from Grahamstown travelled to East London on Saturday when they took part in the provincial Absa women’s soccer league play-offs.
The Grahamstown side finished top of the Cacadu District and took part in the provincial play-offs as the Cacadu champions.
The women’s side came up against some strong opposition in their section, losing to both the NMMU and Amatole champions to finish bottom of their section. Stream A was made up of the East London to Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth areas, while stream B consisted of teams from the Transkei Districts.
While stream A was made up of three teams, there were six in stream B, which covered a larger region.
African Connections first came up against Liverpool women’s side who were the NMMU champions, losing 1-2.
In their second match against the Amatole champions, Thunderbirds, African Connections again went down 1-2. Thunderbirds went on to win the section.
African Connections coach, Chris Totobela, said after the matches said: “I’m happy with the way they performed,” adding that the experience the women learnt will benefit the side in the next season.
Totobela said his women’s side came up against teams from very competitive leagues. The African Connections side were also not at full strength, due to a number of women still being away on holiday and a few more who were working.
The African Connections side which played on Saturday consisted of five pupils from Ntsika and Nombulelo Secondary Schools.
Totobela said the team will now take a well deserved rest after finishing unbeaten in the Cacadu section, playing 14 games, winning 11 and drawing three. He says the side will prepare for the 2009/2010 league which begins later this year, as they once again attempt to be crowned as Cacadu champions.
The side main support, according to the coach, is from “poor soccer loving fans,” and while representing Makana in the Cacadu league, “we receive no support from them”.
While he said his team is also part of the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture development programme, he said the side is yet to see any form of support from the department.
Totobela belives that with the support from the department and Makana Municipality, African Connections could go even further in the Absa women’s league.
