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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">‘This is one of the toughest games we have played in the Caf Women’s Champions League tournament. Both teams were gunning for the final and we had to dig deep to maintain our incredible record at the competition. There is no time to relax because we have a final to prepare for.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So said Mamelodi Sundowns heroine Boitumelo Rabale after their 1-0 semifinal success versus Tanzania’s Simba Queens</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indeed, after effortlessly breezing through the group stage, Masandawana encountered a stubborn and determined Simba side, which would have rattled their net numerous times were it not for some sensational saves by Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Andile Dlamini.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It took a magical moment from Lesotho international Rabale for the defending African champions to finally breach the Simba defence, in the 75th minute. After some great build-up from the back, Sundowns striker Melinda Kgadiete linked up with Rabale, who unleashed a precise first-time curler past the rooted Simba goalkeeper.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1460763\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Soccer-Sundowns-Caf2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"432\" /> Mamelodi Sundowns players celebrate victory over Simba Queens. (Photo: ©Weam Mostafa / BackpagePix)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Simba pushed us to the limits. At some point I felt like we were going to extra time and I had to be careful with changes to make because of that… That goal is one of the best well-crafted goals we’ve ever scored – that’s the identity of Mamelodi Sundowns,” shared Sundowns coach Jerry Tshabalala.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With this narrow win Sundowns extended their unbeaten run at the continent’s premier women’s tournament to nine games, with seven victories and two draws. Masandawana have also scored 12 goals in Morocco, the most by a club in a campaign since the tournament’s inception in 2021.</span>\r\n<h4>Hosts chase glory</h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The marvellous Rabale winner ensured Banyana Ba Style sealed a date with hosts ASFAR. The Moroccans edged out Nigeria’s Bayelsa Queens by a solitary strike to reach the final on home soil.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fuelled by home-ground advantage and passionate local support, the North African side will head into the final encounter of the tournament feeling confident of pulling one over the South African side when it matters the most. Though by sheer experience and strength in quality, Masandawana remain favourites.</span>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Visit <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=in_article_link&utm_campaign=homepage\"><em>Daily Maverick's</em> home page</a> for more news, analysis and investigations</strong>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nevertheless, the host club is determined to climb all the way to the pinnacle of African glory – on home soil. They will have taken notes from Simba after how the Tanzanians frustrated the reigning African champions.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Our goal was to qualify for the final, which we have achieved. We are happy and motivated to win this title in Morocco,” said ASFAR forward Ibtissam Jraïdi.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As for Rabale – who, alongside the on-form Lona Daweti has spearheaded Sundowns’ charge to successfully retain their crown as the queens of Africa – she wishes to see the title return to South Africa for another season.</span>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read in </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick</span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: “</span></i><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-09-11-time-is-now-for-sa-womens-soccer-league-should-be-professional-with-proper-financial-backing-and-pay-for-players/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Time is now for SA women’s soccer – league should be professional, with proper financial backing and pay for players</span></i></a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">”</span></i>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With three goals to her name and two player-of-the-match accolades in the tournament, the Lesotho women’s team captain underlined the fighting spirit of her teammates after their latest triumph.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I want to highlight the mental strength of our team. We had some difficulties, it was not an easy match [against Simba],” she said. </span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1460764\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Soccer-Sundowns-Caf3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"473\" /> Pambani Kuzoya of Simba Queens challenges Chuene Precious Morifi of Mamelodi Sundowns. (Photo: ©Weam Mostafa / BackpagePix)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“But we all throw ourselves in as individuals in order to defend our titles. We have done a good job so far as a team. I just want us to win this title and bring the trophy back home.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She will hope for the same in the final on Sunday, 13 November, at 8pm. It will be broadcast on SuperSport and the SABC. </span><b>DM</b>\r\n\r\n \r\n<div style=\"width: 100%; height: 500px;\" data-tf-widget=\"guGbKbQx\" data-tf-inline-on-mobile=\"\" data-tf-iframe-props=\"title=Holiday plans\" data-tf-medium=\"snippet\" data-tf-disable-auto-focus=\"\"></div>\r\n<script src=\"//embed.typeform.com/next/embed.js\"></script>",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">‘This is one of the toughest games we have played in the Caf Women’s Champions League tournament. Both teams were gunning for the final and we had to dig deep to maintain our incredible record at the competition. There is no time to relax because we have a final to prepare for.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So said Mamelodi Sundowns heroine Boitumelo Rabale after their 1-0 semifinal success versus Tanzania’s Simba Queens</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indeed, after effortlessly breezing through the group stage, Masandawana encountered a stubborn and determined Simba side, which would have rattled their net numerous times were it not for some sensational saves by Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Andile Dlamini.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It took a magical moment from Lesotho international Rabale for the defending African champions to finally breach the Simba defence, in the 75th minute. After some great build-up from the back, Sundowns striker Melinda Kgadiete linked up with Rabale, who unleashed a precise first-time curler past the rooted Simba goalkeeper.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1460763\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1460763\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Soccer-Sundowns-Caf2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"432\" /> Mamelodi Sundowns players celebrate victory over Simba Queens. (Photo: ©Weam Mostafa / BackpagePix)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Simba pushed us to the limits. At some point I felt like we were going to extra time and I had to be careful with changes to make because of that… That goal is one of the best well-crafted goals we’ve ever scored – that’s the identity of Mamelodi Sundowns,” shared Sundowns coach Jerry Tshabalala.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With this narrow win Sundowns extended their unbeaten run at the continent’s premier women’s tournament to nine games, with seven victories and two draws. Masandawana have also scored 12 goals in Morocco, the most by a club in a campaign since the tournament’s inception in 2021.</span>\r\n<h4>Hosts chase glory</h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The marvellous Rabale winner ensured Banyana Ba Style sealed a date with hosts ASFAR. The Moroccans edged out Nigeria’s Bayelsa Queens by a solitary strike to reach the final on home soil.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fuelled by home-ground advantage and passionate local support, the North African side will head into the final encounter of the tournament feeling confident of pulling one over the South African side when it matters the most. Though by sheer experience and strength in quality, Masandawana remain favourites.</span>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Visit <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=in_article_link&utm_campaign=homepage\"><em>Daily Maverick's</em> home page</a> for more news, analysis and investigations</strong>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nevertheless, the host club is determined to climb all the way to the pinnacle of African glory – on home soil. They will have taken notes from Simba after how the Tanzanians frustrated the reigning African champions.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Our goal was to qualify for the final, which we have achieved. We are happy and motivated to win this title in Morocco,” said ASFAR forward Ibtissam Jraïdi.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As for Rabale – who, alongside the on-form Lona Daweti has spearheaded Sundowns’ charge to successfully retain their crown as the queens of Africa – she wishes to see the title return to South Africa for another season.</span>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read in </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick</span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: “</span></i><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-09-11-time-is-now-for-sa-womens-soccer-league-should-be-professional-with-proper-financial-backing-and-pay-for-players/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Time is now for SA women’s soccer – league should be professional, with proper financial backing and pay for players</span></i></a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">”</span></i>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With three goals to her name and two player-of-the-match accolades in the tournament, the Lesotho women’s team captain underlined the fighting spirit of her teammates after their latest triumph.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I want to highlight the mental strength of our team. We had some difficulties, it was not an easy match [against Simba],” she said. </span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1460764\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1460764\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Soccer-Sundowns-Caf3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"473\" /> Pambani Kuzoya of Simba Queens challenges Chuene Precious Morifi of Mamelodi Sundowns. (Photo: ©Weam Mostafa / BackpagePix)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“But we all throw ourselves in as individuals in order to defend our titles. We have done a good job so far as a team. I just want us to win this title and bring the trophy back home.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She will hope for the same in the final on Sunday, 13 November, at 8pm. 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Mamelodi Sundowns players celebrate victory over Simba Queens. (Photo: ©Weam Mostafa / BackpagePix)
Pambani Kuzoya of Simba Queens challenges Chuene Precious Morifi of Mamelodi Sundowns. (Photo: ©Weam Mostafa / BackpagePix)