GIRLS’ FOOTBALL
LIS GIRLS STUN HOSTS BUT TAKE SECOND PLACE ON PENALTIES

The girls’ football squad, consisiting of Haley Talbot (capt), Joanna Madeleno (v. captain), Madison Wisnie, Jennifer Monimambo, Manuela Pinto, Jessica Talbot, Isadora Rocha, Rebecca Fisher, Maren Reedy and Jacinth Jones, recently returned from a school 6-a-side  football competition hosted by the American International School of Johannesburg. (AISJ) The host school are currently the football champions of the International Schools Sports Association of Southern and Eastern Africa (ISSEA), but went down 0-1 in a lively opening encounter with LIS.

The twelve teams were divided into two pools and the LIS girls played some thrilling matches throughout the morning.  The large pitches and cool conditions seemed to suit LIS and the opening victory, which was a stunner for the hosts but a great confidence booster for the visitors, was followed up by a 2-1 win against local side Diepsloot, a 4-0 win against Holy Family and a narrow 4-3 win against the American International School of Mozambique. The morning was rounded off by a tough encounter with arch rivals Lusaka and, on this occasion, it was the turn of LIS to taste defeat, losing by 2 goals to nil and, as in Namibia earlier on in the season, being tormented by Amanda, the Zambian’s star player.

Four victories and one defeat, leading to being placed second in group A, paid dividends in as much as LIS were awarded a bye into the quarter final. The extra down time was much appreciated and clearly evident as the visitors romped to a 4-0 win over local girls Sacred Heart. Meanwhile, and to everyone’s surprise, Lusaka were knocked out of the main competition which meant that LIS would again face the American International School Of Mozambique in the semis. This was a tough encounter but another great team effort saw the LIS girls through by two goals to one.

So it was back to square one and the final against AISJ who had recovered from their earlier reverse, and who had made good use of their 15 member squad throughout the day. It was a tense and nervy beginning for both sides with missed chances at both ends. After the interval, however, the advantages of home support and a larger and older squad became evident as the visitors found themselves pinned down in their own half and unable to break out. Time and again they repelled the host’s well organised attacks and – in the end – the home side were unable to break through meaning that the tournament would be settled by penalites.

Suffice to say, the local girls were stronger by this stage and ran out comfortable 3 -1 winners from the spot.  However, the runners up berth has brought great credit to the team and has firmly placed LIS on the map. Many congratulations to the squad who, each and every one were all winners, but special commendation goes to Hayley Talbot and Isadora Rocha who helped themselves to seven goals apiece. Mention too must also be made of Rebecca Fisher’s great goalkeeping and many thanks to Haley and Joanna for ensuring that the squad had fantastic uniforms, both for the field and for travelliing.  Finally, a big thank you to Tina Talbot for her great planning and physio,  and to the small group of parents who made the journey to witness history in the making.

 Bora Rancic
 Football Coach