Thunderbirds Ladies FC played the first half of their 4-1 SAFA National Women’s league defeat to First Touch Academy with their luggage on the touchline.
The incident happened at the official game in Seshego on Saturday. Thunderbirds coach Thembalethu Apleni explained that they could not leave their belongings in the dressing room as it did not have a key to lock.
Apleni says this situation is one of the many challenges faced by clubs in the inaugural campaign of the women’s league. The coach says they are not playing under good conditions.
Apleni feels his side was justified to take their bags with to the field because they have been victims of theft before earlier in the season even though the coach would not reveal the name of the venue.
The safety concerns were not the only sideshow at the match in Seshego. Match officials came wearing no matching uniform, the two lines-men were matching in orange tops and black bottoms, the man in the middle wore a black top with blue stripes and black bottoms while the fourth official was in all black top and bottom.
The home side’s coach John Hlako was dismayed by the referee’s saga saying they knew early last week about the game and yet still arrived late and not in uniform.
“in this league (#SNWL) It doesn’t start with the safety thing,traveling more than 16 hours on a bus. The problem is also money. They (women) are not playing under good conditions for football” ~Thunderbirds Ladies coach Thembalethu Apleni. @SABC_INFO_HUB @SPORTATSABC #SabcNews pic.twitter.com/64btEpr9vK
— Rakgadi’a bana (@ngwanamogoto) February 10, 2020
The side shows aren’t writing themselves. The visiting team spent the first half with their bags on the Touch line because there aren’t Keys for one of the dressing rooms. #SNWL pic.twitter.com/WVVM9xhRuE
— Rakgadi’a bana (@ngwanamogoto) February 8, 2020
– Report by Lethabo Kganyago
