Basetsana prepare for next World Cup fixtures

Sports Reporter

The National Under-20 Women’s team, Basetsana, showed great fighting spirit in their preliminary round second leg 2020 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifier at Orlando Stadium against Zambia on Saturday.

  The team’s coach Jabulile Baloyi applauded her charges after they came back twice, cancelling out any lead the visitors pulled against them, to force the match to end in a 2-2 draw. This means that Basetsana progress into the first round of qualifiers, after beating Zambia 4-2 on aggregate, having won the first leg 2-0 in Lusaka.

  Baloyi said they will now shift their focus in getting past Botswana in the next round.  “The girls played really well and we will now face Botswana in the next round,” she said.

  Baloyi added that there will be a lot of preparation going into both of those legs. “Our main goal is to qualify for the Costa Rica and Panama 2020 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and nothing less,” she said.

  Zambia’s Under-20 Women’s coach, Charles Haalubono wished Baloyi well in the remaining rounds of the World Cup qualifiers, adding that he hopes Basetsana go all the way to secure their first FIFA U-20 Women’s World appearance.

  Baloyi said it was very kind of Haalubono to share such remarks. “I hold him in high regard in his application of tactics when it comes to coaching. He also told me that this team has the potential of qualify to this year’s 2020 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup tournament,” she said.