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Basetsana optimistic

Linda Moreotsene

Linda Moreotsene

In her first official match at the helm, Basetsana coach Annah Monate believes her charges' determination will see them through in their World Cup qualifying match against Mozambique at Caledonian Stadium on Sunday at 3pm.

Monate bases her conviction on how the national Under-20 team, conducted themselves on their tour of Germany and the Netherlands, where they managed to hold the Germans to a 2-2 draw, and narrowly lost 0 -1 to the Dutch.

But Monate said she would not underestimate the opposition, wh she and the rest of the technical team knows very little about.

"The plan is to stick to what we can do, and control how we respond. They are a closed book to us, to be honest.

"However, that situation removes the element of surprise, because will be ready for anything," Monate said.

The bulk of the team, players such as Kylie-Ann Louw, goal keeper Mandy De Araujo and Mamello Makhabane, have been groomed for two years, and the feeling is its time they started delivering the goods.

"It is now time for them to prove their worth," Monate said.

There has been no injuries so far, and all concerned predict the match will be the first step the girls would take towards taking part in the first-ever Under-20 Women's World Cup in Chile in November. Basetsana face stiff competition from Nigeria, Ghana and Congo for the two places.

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