Football: Cosafa Castle Cup-Losing debut for Seychelles |28 February 2005
On a waterlogged pitch and with the game having to be stopped for almost an hour in the second period, Seychelles clearly lacked depth to lose 0-3 in their first ever clash against South Africa.
Striker Kaytloego Mphela, who plays for Strasbourg in the French Ligue 1, netted South Africa’s first two goals inside the opening 20 minutes of play following two corner kicks by Thando Mngomeni.
Unmarked inside the penalty area, Mphela headed home past Seychelles goalkeeper and captain Nelson Sopha in the 12th minute. Four minutes later, Mphela became the first South African to score twice on his debut with the Bafana Bafana when he hit home his second personal goal after the ball had been headed to him from another Mngomeni corner.
Lerato Chabangu touched home South Africa’s third goal on the stroke of half-time after Sandile Ndlovu had rounded keeper Sopha and centred to him.
South Africa scored a fourth goal late in the second half but Sandile Ndlovu’s effort was ruled out for offside.
Seychelles’ starting 11 comprised goalkeeper Nelson Sopha, Jonathan Bibi, Percy Laramé, Wilnes Brutus, Henny Dufresne, Alpha Baldé, Denis Barbé, Philip Zialor, Ted Esther, Alex Nibourette and Verna Rose.
The three substitutes used were Brian Ravinia (for Zialor in the 62nd minute), Jude Ladouce (for Laramé in the 63rd minute) and Jeffrey Brutus (for Dufresne 80th minute).
It is to note that a tropical downpour forced Mauritian referee Ahmed Roheemun to stop play between Seychelles and South Africa for almost an hour with 24 minutes remaining on the clock. Firemen had to pump water off the pitch and ground staff dug holes to drain the water.
South Africa were to play Mauritius in Sunday’s final for a place in the final mini-tournament in August.
Playing at home, Mauritius, who eliminated South Africa on a 2-0 score in last year’s edition of the competition, got goals from Kersley Appou (45th) and Jerry Louis (48th) in their 2-0 win over Madagascar.
G. G.