Action aims double edged-sword at Downs
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday September 8, 2023 12:48
Kick-off is at 3pm. The 'Star Stripes' will go up against Mares’ stars Refilwe Tholakele and Sedilame Bosija, with the Botswana team aspiring for glory and a historic spot in the annals of the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
Double Action are a mere 90 minutes of regulation time away from potentially becoming the first local side to advance to the CAF Women’s Champions League finals. Sundowns eliminated Double Action in the 2021 semi-finals and the last encounter between the two teams concluded with a 1-1 draw.
Double Action’s head coach, William ‘Raizor’ Monene, chooses to disregard past outcomes, believing his side can match their illustrious opponents. His objective was to guide the team to the final and he expressed confidence in his team's capability to emerge as champions. “Looking at Sundowns, the history tells us what we can do but it does not tell us what we can't do. The statistics tell us what we can do against particular opponents not what we will not do. Last time we played them it ended 1-1.
I believe from their end they will not take us lightly,” Monene remarked. However, Monene acknowledges the quality within the Sundowns squad while bemoaning the absence of international players in the Double Action line-up. “If you look at their players, there is a lot of quality in there. They have international players while for us regulations are that we cannot sign foreign players. Sundowns can make two good teams with that squad but we will be ready for them,” he stated.
Monene commended his team for reaching the competition's final after clinching third place in the last two editions. Double Action are relatively injury-free, except for full-back Boitumelo Gammu, who awaits a late fitness assessment as she recovers from a knock. Sundowns, a formidable side, won the tournament in 2021 and finished as runners-up last year.
'Banyana Ba Style' have won all their games thus far and lead the goal-scoring charts with 19 goals in just four matches. The victor of this contest will secure a spot in the CAF Women’s Champions League finals, scheduled to be held in Ivory Coast later this year.