Walter Sisulu University’s dream team failed to defend their title at the annual East London Central Local Football Association (ELCFLA) Women’s Day Tournament and the crown for 2024 goes to the firecrackers of Imonti Cambridge Ladies FC.
With a heated battle on August 9 at North End, sponsored by Premier Star Bakeries and the department of sport recreation arts & culture (DSRAC), the defending champions were unseated by underdogs Imonti Cambridge Ladies FC with a narrow margin of 2-1.
Winning coach, Thembani Mhluzi, credits Imonti’s success to their stringent development goals that has seen the club develop players since they were at U13 level — a key component of squad depth that many other clubs neglect.
Mhluzi said: “We stuck to the basics and our commitment to working on the team’s fitness paid off because we had the energy to sustain a fight.
“We started out strong, scoring the first goal off the boot of Asitahndile Luzipho and we just tried to build on this momentum.
“We had to improvise in the second half and our goalkeeper, Asisipho Sonti, had to try her hand as a striker and she proved formidable in the role, even scoring the goal that clinched us the game. Our adaptable performance made us champions.”
Relegated to runners-up this year, WSU coach Lungisa Lusithi credits Mhluzi’s outfit for giving them a tough time and is sure the 2023 champions will wrest the title back from Cambridge location’s finest, next year.
Lusithi said: “We struggled this year with team synergy because our players in the team line up for the tournament were some of our second team members, however it is important for the players to be exposed to competitive tournaments like this so that we build depth in the structure.”
ELCFLA Women’s Football chair, Vuyo Zambodla said the tournament’s strength proves that when there is support from the private sector, local government and commitment from grassroots coaches, the development of women’s soccer accelerates.
Zambodla said: “The tournament grows better every year and more competitive as no team yet has managed to retain the title.
“For the first time this year we had preliminary qualifiers and the highlight of the competition was seeing the fight that ensued between the weaker and stronger teams and the introduction of promising young players, especially from teams like Revelations FC and Ascendents FC, who are experiencing the tournament for the first time.”
Under the new executive, ELCFLA will have its work cut out for it in order to secure continued sponsorships for the fourth year of the competition, especially as the cry for its importance is echoed from coaches across the city.
Lusisthi said: “We are so grateful to ELCFLA and Premier Star Bakeries as tournaments like this are important. In an ideal world, we wish this was happening every week because the ladies’ soccer structures need this sort of exposure.”
ELCFLA also celebrated the inclusion of former ELCFLA youth development player, Lakhan Gqango, who was signed to PSL based TS Galaxy FC earlier this year and who has now been included in the Bafana Bafana U21 side for the upcoming fixture against Lesotho in September.
Gqango scooped two individual awards at the 2023 ELCFLA end of year prizegiving and was voted the U16 footballer of the year and the ELCFLA Youth player of the year.
The 17-year-old is elated at having been selected to the national side especially at such a young age.
He said: “It feels good to be chosen to represent my country because its every footballer’s dream.
“I’ve been working hard since the season started even before the call up for the national side but this selection has just boosted my confidence to go as far as I can with football.
“My plan is to get more than 70 minutes in the game or to score a goal or at least assist. I want my first national game to be nothing less than excellent.”
ELCFLA president Hilton Pooven said the association proud of what Gqongo had achieved, especially because his foundations in the game could be traced back to development from the ELCFLA Young Lion’s coach Similani Kulakade.
Pooven said: “Lakhan’s achievement serves as an inspiration and motivation for the entire community, demonstrating the effectiveness of local talent development programmes.
“ELCFLA continues to strive for re-instatement of our LFA status which will enable us to enhance our support for young players and contribute to their growth and success.”
 Women’s Day Tournament and the crown for 2024 goes to the firecrackers of Imonti Cambridge Ladies FC.){kind=link}