Teboho Setena
The Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) Cup championship in Bloemfontein has produced a mere 22 goals since it commenced last Wednesday, 4 June. The tournament features 14 nations.
The chronic challenge of the strikers failing to convert some golden opportunities saw some games end goalless. The inability of the 14 nations goal poachers to convert scoring chances they create during the matches saw their team even fail to progress to the semi-final taking on Friday, 13 June. Some nations got eliminated based on a slight difference in goals, despite potential opportunity.
Most of the coaches have lamented missed scoring opportunities in games they believed they should have won convincingly, if their strikers converted the opportunities. Botswana’s incumbent head coach Morena Ramorebodi bemoaned missed chances in a match against Comoros. The fixture ended without goals and the South African born, however was happy with the performance of his warriorss.
However, Angola have proven to have an appetite for goals, having scored six goals in all three matches in the Group B – winning 4 – 0 against Lesotho, 1-0 over Malawi and played to a 1-1 draw with Namibia. This hunger for goals saw the Palancas Negras secure a semi-final slot. Angola is the reigning champion, having won the crown last year in Gqeberha and aiming to increase its number of tournament wins to five.
With the competition at crucial stage, leading to the semifinal and the final on Sunday, the remaining teams are expected to unleash their best in their quest to claim the Cosafa Cup.Critics on R6 million for football tournament in Mangaung
The hosts, South Africa just managed to scraped through to the semi-final, amid a goalless draw with Mauritius in the last fixture of Group A played yesterday afternoon. The result inspired confidence in coach Vela Khumalo, whose goal is to continue South Africa’s history as the powerhouse in the championship. The country has won the tournament five times.
SA lost the opening game 0 – 1 to Mozambique. The junior Bafana Bafana redeemed themselves by convincingly beating Zimbabwe 2 – 0 in the second match played on Saturday, 7 June.
