Leemisa Thuseho
LDF, Kick4Life, Rovers Ladies and Stoko FC have all advanced to the Dare to Dream Women’s tournament semifinals.
LDF progressed to the semifinals after topping the tournament’s southern stream group with 18 points while Kick4Life finished at the top of the central stream group, also with 18 points.
FC Stoko topped the northern stream group with 15 points.
The tournament had three groups and Rovers qualified as best runners-up after finishing behind Kick4Life in the central stream group with 10 points.
The semifinals and finals are scheduled for 10 and 11 July respectively at a yet to be confirmed venue. The draw will also be announced in the due course.
The league was organised as a mini event to keep teams busy ahead of the beginning of the 2021/22 Women Super League (WSL) edition. This after the 2020/20 failed to be staged due to Covid-19 induced challenges.
The coach of the WSL defending champions, LDF, Lehloenya Nkhasi said all the qualified teams worked hard to be in the top four and he is expecting competitive semifinals.
“The top four teams worked hard to advance to the next stage and it is obvious that it is going to be a tough top four. We are just waiting for the draw and plan accordingly,” Nkhasi said.
LDF won all its games in the group stages scoring 54 goals and conceding just one in six games. Nkhasi said he is happy with his side’s performance citing that they needed to take the tournament seriously as it is part of their preparations from COSAFA Women’s Championship in August.
“My team worked hard as we are using the tournament to prepare for the bigger picture, which is CAF. We have been working on different aspects of the game like combinations and tactical approaches as we prepare for COSAFA.
“I had a chance to watch Kick4Life and Rovers this season. The only team that I didn’t get a chance to watch is FC Stoko but what is important for me at the moment is to focus on what my team can do best,” Nkhasi said.
Kick4Life coach Elizabeth Yelimala is also expecting tough semifinal.
“Each of the semifinalists is good and it’s not going to be an easy ride but we will give it all we can and try coming on top.
“It wasn’t easy in the group stages but we tried our best,” Yelimala said.
She also expressed confidence that her team will have a competitive WSL campaign this year.
