Cape Town - The University of the Western Cape (UWC) women’s soccer team has returned home after their historic victory in Malawi.
At the CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers on Saturday, the ladies emerged as champions of the Cosafa region on Saturday.
Their accomplishment became the first time an African university team had advanced to this round of the competition.
The Caracals were welcomed back to loud cheers and celebrations at the Cape Town International Airport yesterday.
Coach Thinasonke Mbuli commended her student athletes for striking a balance between their academic and athletic pursuits.
Mbuli said that even though the county did not have a professional football league for women, the student team excelled at the highest level.
“When it’s time to study, they study; when it’s time to play football, they give it their all,” she says.
UWC won in a thrilling penalty shootout 9-8 against Gaborone United of Botswana to qualify.
This after the match ended in a 1-1 draw, with UWC victory earning them a spot alongside defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC. This was not their first triumph. On August 9, the team won their third Varsity Football Women’s trophy, a title which they have won twice in a row.
According to Chelsea Daniels, 22, the team’s main goal since 2019 has been to compete against the best of the best.
The star striker and second-year BEd student claims that most of the players had to study while giving it their all for the team.
“As a student, to go out there and play every second day and also attend classes online, having to study, submit assignments and still give our all on the field was a huge achievement,” she said.
Daniels told the Cape Argus that the victory would be remembered for years to come.
“Throughout my football career this has been my biggest achievement, I’m very blessed to be part of this,” she said.
UWC’s success is described as a major milestone in women’s football on the continent, and according to Bennett Bailey, president of Safa CT, the future of women’s soccer is in excellent hands.
“This achievement means a lot for the province and the country.
“They are also the first university which maps the path for youngsters so that they can play football and go to university,” Bailey adds.
byron.lukas@inl.co.za
Cape Argus