Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship |26 September 2022
Player-of-the-match Glenny Gamatis receiving his prize
91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ edge hosts South Africa 3-2 in first match
Ìý
91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ got off to a very good start in the Hollywoodbets Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) Beach Soccer Championship at Durban’s South Beach Arena yesterday by edging host country South Africa 3-2.
Glenny Gamatis was named player-of-the-match for his good overall performance to help the 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ team, coached by Edmond Robert, register a victory.
After South Africa had opened the scoring, Elvin Estico equalised for 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ before Gamatis gave the visiting 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ team the lead at 2-1. South Africa equalised once again at 2-2 before Hansel Coeur-de-Lion won the match for 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ with the team’s third goal.
It was a must-win match for 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ in group A as their next two matches are against two African giants ‒ defending champions Mozambique and 2015 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations winners Senegal. They play Mozambique today and will meet Senegal in their last group game on Wednesday September 28.
The onus is on the 91Ï㽶ÊÓƵ to give a better performance this time after their disappointing showing at the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship in 2021 when they lost both group encounters against hosts South Africa (2-4) and Angola (6-8) to miss out on the semifinals.
In the plate final, the team again lost 4-5 to fellow islanders Comoros. Hansel Coeur de Lion top-scored for the side with five goals.
In yesterday’s other group A match, Senegal beat Mozambique 5-4 and Mandione Laye was named man-of-the-match. Senegal meet hosts South Africa today.
The winners and runners-up of group A will meet those of group B in a cross knockout in the semifinals. Group B is made up of Egypt, Mauritius, Tanzania and Uganda.
The championship is taking place in Durban from September 25 to October 1.
Ìý
Gerard Govinden
