Scorchers thrash Lesotho to keep Cosafa bid alive

Scorchers yesterday thrashed Lesotho in their second Group A match in South Africa to keep alive their chances of qualifying for the Cosafa Women’s Championship semi-finals in South Africa. The comfortable victory is a perfect recovery from a 2-0 loss to hosts Banyana Banyana in their opener last Wednesday. Now, the Malawi Women’s Football Team needs to beat Angola in their last group fixture on Tuesday to have a realistic chance of sailing through to the last-four stage as the best runners-up across the 11-team tournament’s three groups.

At present, South Africa, who beat Angola 2-0 yesterday, top the four-team group with six points from two straight wins while Malawi are second on better goal difference following a tie on three points with third-placed Angola. Lesotho anchors the group without a point. Said Scorchers coach Lovemore Fazili: “This emphatic win is a big motivation after we lost in the opener.

I thank the girls for playing according to plan and fighting with a purpose. Our focus now turns on our last group match,” At Seshego Stadium yesterday, the Scorchers turned on a vintage performance, scoring at will with striker Deborah Henry hitting a hat-trick in her first senior national team appearance. It was no surprise, therefore, that she was named player of the match.

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Defender Ireen Khumalo had a brace Egypt-based forward Vanessa Chikupira, midfielder Vitumbiko Mkandawire and striker Olivia Phikani struck once each. The Malawi Women’s Football Team had the luxury of scoring six goals by the end of the first half and added two more before Lesotho scored their consolation goal. Henry, who completed her hat-trick within the first half, said it was a dream-come-true to score in her Scorchers debut.

In fact, the Silver Strikers Ladies forward’s inclusion in the national team was due to her scoring prowess in the inaugural National Bank of Malawi (NBM) Women’s Premiership where she won the golden boot with 23 goals. “It feels great to score three goals in my first international match for the Scorchers. This is a moment I will remember for the rest of my life.

However, the most important thing is that we have won the match,” she said. The Scorchers are using the Cosafa tournament to prepare for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco next month.

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