David Rossouw
Real Brazilian Ladies FC, who finished fourth in the Cape Town Women Regional League (CTWRL) in 2023, are the 2024 football season’s surprise package.
The Brazilians have gone undefeated in six CTWRL matches this season, and things look good for coach Andile Mgqalelo.
On Saturday, the Brazilians defeated Atlantis Saints in an RWL at Dunoon Sportsfield. On the day, Kgotatso Maqungu and Alulutho Bobotyane were in devastating form after scoring two goals in the first 20 minutes.
As the game progressed, the Brazilians increased their pace and adjusted their aggressive approach on the pitch, leaving the Saints with no answers as Maqungu scored her second goal of the game right before half-time.
Following the start of the second half, the Brazilians were superb, outplaying the Saints and scoring four more great goals from Bobotyane, Kuhle Magingxa, Esihle Pula, and Alutha Maposato to seal the victory.
Enjoying 80% ball possession, the Brazilians gave Saints no room to start counter attacks. The Brazilians have one aim: to become the new log leaders following game six on Saturday evening. They climbed to first place as they crushed Saints with seven goals.
The Brazilians not only moved CPUT out of first place, but increased their goal total to 52, with only two goals conceded.
CPUT has the same log points but has scored 29 fewer goals and conceded four. Kgotatso Maqungu and Alulutho Bobotyane’s will to score goals does not bode well for the other teams’ prospects.
Mgqalelo and his team still have a long way to go, but things are looking up for the Brazilians, who seek to prove themselves in this year’s WRL.
Goal scorers
Kgotatso Maqungu (2), Alulutho Bobotyane (2), Kuhle Magingxa (1), Esihle Pula (1), and Alutha Maposa (1).
On Sunday, May 26, the Brazilians headed to the Langa stadium to face the highly regarded Ikamva women’s team (Cape Town Spurs) in the U20 Women Engen Challenge Cup play-offs. It was their first time competing in the tournament as they faced Ikamva.
They remained calm and recovered from a 0-2 deficit at half-time to win 3-2, while Ikamva battled it out in the final minutes of the match and came very close to upsetting them. A blunder in the final minutes of the game gave Ikamva a chance to equalize and force a penalty shootout.
“Unfortunately, we lost the penalty shootout, 3-4. My girls’ errors and inexperience in knockout competitions cost the match,” said Mgqalelo.
“We outplayed Ikamva Ladies in the second half, and it was simply a lack of experience that cost us the game, but generally we matched them on the pitch, and it was pure luck that propelled Ikamva to the next stage. With additional exposure to knockout events like the Engen Challenge Cup, we can become a force in future knockout competitions,” Mgqalelo added.
He said the team could now concentrate on the league and expected to perform well in their RWL matches.