WINDHOEK – Brave Gladiators young midfielder Zenatha Coleman scored for the team in their one-all draw against Progresso Club in Luanda on Saturday but the Angolan side won 5-4 on penalties in a match that formed part of Angola’s 38th independence anniversary celebrations.
According to Jackey Gertze, the lanky Coleman had a man of the match performance throughout the encounter: “She was just simply outstanding. She had her best game of 2013 without a doubt and carried the team through very well. She scored from a great free kick just on the edge of the 18-metre box to give the Gladiators the lead in the first half, which was later cancelled out by the hosts. Overall, it was a good game, it’s just always worth it playing against teams like Angola,” said Gertze.
Namibia scored first to take an early lead, but Angola managed to grab a late equaliser to level th scoresheet, taking the match into penalties. Progresso Club won 5-4 in the shoot-out after Namibia’s Shirley “Khumalo” Cloete missed her spotkick by shooting wide to hand the hosts victory.
“We played against a formidable team and it is all thanks to Progresso Club which is coached by the national team coach and has more than nine national players and other international players especially from the DRC,” said Jacqueline Shipanga, head coach of the Gladiators.
The Gladiators team is now planning a trip to Accra, Ghana for their two-week training camp and will also confirm international friendlies against national women teams of Ghana and the Ivory Coast. The team also plans to play training games against Ghanaian women club sides.
“ When all the logistics for our trip to Ghana are finalised, then you know that this game in Angola would come in handy in terms of match fitness and overall preparations for the team. Remember, next year most countries are playing qualifiers and we are just playing friendlies ahead of the CAF Women Championships in October, which we will hosted here in Namibia,” said Shipanga
By Staff Reporter