Brave Gladiators lose to Tanzania

The Brave Gladiators lost 5-2 at Tanzania on Sunday for a 7-2 aggregate defeat in the first round of the 2012 African Women Championships qualifiers.

The Namibian soccer ladies team had it all to do in the second leg in Dar es Salaam after losing 2-0 in Windhoek a fortnight ago.

But in a game with an estimated attendance of about 15 000 people and under very hot conditions, the Gladiators gave a good account of themselves as they scored two goals through Emmerencia Fredericks and Juliana Skrywer.

Tanzania scored first in the 21st minute through Mwanahamisi Omari who her powerful shot gave no chance to Namibia goalie Sussana Eises. However Namibia managed to equalize nine minutes later through Emmerencia Fredericks who connected home a corner ball from Lydia Eixas.

Asha Rashid was on the mark this time when she scored second goal for Tanzania in the 47 minute through a sizeable shot. Namibia equalized again in the 72nd minute. Thanks to striker Juliana Skrywer who capitalized on Tanzania goalie who hesitates to clear a cross from left flank.

Tanzania was in the limelight in last six minutes where they managed to slot the ball in the Namibia net three times. Scorers were Eto Mlenzi in the 84th minute, Asha Rashid in the 88th and Mwanahamisi Omari in the 90th minnute.

Attention now turns to the national under-17 and under 20 sides who have away dates with South Afrcia on February 4 and Ghana on February 18 in the FIFA Women World Cup qualifiers respectively.