SAFA president makes Downs Ladies plea

SAFA president makes Downs Ladies plea

SAFA president Danny Jordaan has urged coach Jerry Tshabalala and his Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies side to mark their names in the history books by retaining the CAF Champions League title.

The Brazilians face Morocco outfit AS FAR Club at the Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat to battle over the continental crown.

Kick-off is 9pm SA time.

œWhat happens in the final will be remembered forever. Look at our own history, they are still talking about the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations when Doctor Khumalo and those guys [Bafana Bafana] won it, Jordaan told Tshabalala and his squad.

œThey don™t remember who they played before they came to the final and won it. Whatever you™ve done up until now, I don™t think even at home they remember how you got to the final and who did you play against. But they will remember the final and the result forever.

Sundowns were ruthless in the group stages - beating Bayelsa Queens [Nigeria] 2-1 in the opener, then thumping Wad Degla [Egypt] 5-0 before another polished 4-0 win over TP Mazembe to take up top spot.

The semifinal against Simba Queens [Tanzania] was a lot tougher and midfielder Boitumelo Rabale scored the only goal of the game to send Downs to the final.

œYou are the defending champions and that places a responsibility on you - many of you can do what you did in the Women™s Africa Cup of Nations by beating Morocco in Morocco. The ground was full, if we had 10 South Africans it was too many, the SAFA boss, in reference to Banyana Banyana winning the WAFCON in July, explained.

œThe stadium is going to be full and noisy, but they must just sit there in the stands. They can™t change anything on the field, so you must send them home early and have a quiet game. You have a special responsibility as the first women™s team to win the competition. You have the responsibility to defend this title. If you make it this far, it means you are good enough to win it. We can™t wait for Bafana or the other clubs. You must bring another continental trophy home. I will be sitting in the stands.

By Mazola Molefe