Brave Gladiators head coach Woody Jacobs has made it clear that the team’s goal at this year’s Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) Women’s Championship is to win the tournament. 

He made these remarks following the draw for the tournament yesterday, where Namibia’s Gladiators were placed in Group A alongside Eswatini, South Africa and Seychelles.

This year’s edition of the annual tournament will be held in the city of Port Elizabeth, also known as Gqeberha, from 22 October to 2 November. 

A total of 14 teams will compete, making it the largest women’s international competition to be held on the African continent. 

The top teams in each pool will advance to the semifinals.

Two venues will host the matches in Gqeberha, including the iconic Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, which was built ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. 

Malawi are the reigning champions, having defeated Zambia’s Copper Queens 2-1 in last year’s final.

Reacting to the draw, an excited Jacobs expressed satisfaction with the group they have been placed in, calling it a “fair group”, and stating that he has long wanted his team to face South Africa’s Banyana Banyana. 

He believes that the match against South Africa will be a crucial one, as Banyana Banyana are currently the best team on the continent.

The former Orlando Pirates gaffer said playing against them will be a significant test for the Gladiators.

“We have Seychelles and Eswatini in the same group, and while some may say they’re easy opponents, the truth is, football still needs to be played, and we will need to win those games,” he said. 

“Then we have the big one, which is South Africa. I’ve always wanted to face them, and I’m really looking forward to that match. We’re not claiming to be superior team than them, but I’ve always said that strong opponents bring out the best in your players, and I believe our girls will be up for the challenge,” he stated.

South Africa has won the competition a record seven times, while Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi have each lifted the coveted trophy at least once. 

However, Jacobs is firm in his belief that the Brave Gladiators will not settle for anything less than the trophy this year. 

“Our objective this year is to win the Cosafa Cup. To do that, we must beat the best. I believe in these girls, and I know that to achieve our goal, we will need to bring our A-game,” he emphasised. -mkambukwe@nepc.com.na