Simphiwe Dludlu, in charge of Banyana Banyana at the 2022 COSAFA Women’s Championship, has explained why she believes Zambia are favourites heading into the final at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium in Gqeberha on Sunday afternoon (15:00).
Banyana booked a place in the final after beating Namibia 1-0, while Zambia, who are yet to win the COSAFA Championship, edged defending champions Tanzania 2-1.
With South Africa without their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations winning stars, Dludlu feels Zambia have the upper hand and will be eager to avenge their WAFCON semifinal defeat at the hands of champions Banyana.
Coach Desiree Ellis and her regular Banyana troops had other commitments. They recently played two international friendlies with Brazil, with Dludlu guiding a new-look SA side with several fringe players at the COSAFA Cup.
WHY ZAMBIA ARE FAVOURITES
“Statistically, both sides are more or less on par, but when you speak to the experience there, Zambia have the edge over us because 80 per cent of the team went to WAFCON and want to pay back,” Dludlu told the media.
“They are using the wrong team to try to pay back with because for us; we don’t care much whom we are playing; we just want to get on the field, play and have fun; the score and everything else will unravel on its own.
“I don’t want to put myself under pressure and the team. I want them to achieve things that are possible to achieve and try to say, ‘we are going to fight and win against Zambia’.
”No, we are going to go out there and fight against our fear, us doubting ourselves, us thinking that we are not good enough to be on the field; that is the biggest thing for me because I’m not a brilliant coach.
“But in this tournament, I came in and said I want to be the best motivator for my players, I want them to believe in themselves and have faith in each other, and I believe I have achieved that,” concluded Dludlu.
