Brave Gladiators thump Swaziland

The Brave Gladiators gave a great performance to beat Swaziland 6-2 at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium on Saturday.

The match formed part of the festivities to celebrate Namibia’s 25th anniversary and and the Gladiators came to the party with a dominant performance that saw them scoring three goals in each half.

Attacking from wide on the wings, the Brave Gladiators immediately put Swaziland under pressure and it did not take long for them to open their account.

Thomalina Adams wasted an early opportunity when she shot over the bar from close range but she soon turned provider, sending in a cross to Zenatha Coleman who fired into the net after eight minutes.

Coleman shot narrowly wide on 17 minutes, but the diminutive Juliana Skrywer made it 2-0 with a great header from an Adams cross two minutes later.

Swaziland opened their account midway through the first half through a long range shot by Nobuhle Mdluli which flew over Agnes Kauzuu’s head and into the net.

Namibia were however soon on the attack again and a great goal by Anna Shikusho put them 3-1 ahead.

Anna Katuta whipped in a cross from the left wing and Katuta gave Swaziland’s keeper no chance with a powerful header from close range.

Moments later Namibian captain Mammie Kasaona hit the back of the net when she pounced onto a loose ball but she was ruled offside and the goal was disallowed.

Namibia’s ascendancy continued in the second half and a great long range strike by Lorraine Jossob put them 4-1 ahead after 56 minutes.

Namibian coach Jacqueline Shipanga rang the changes in the second half, bringing on Veweziwe Kotjipati, Vistorine Shangula, Memory Ngonda, Lovisa Mulunga, Novata Paulus and Stella Williams and their attacks continued unabated.

Ngonda made the score 5-1 with a great bicycle kick after good work by Mulunga, but Swaziland pulled a goal back after a long range shot by Celiwe Nkambule went in off the post.

Namibia however had the final say when Lovisa Mulunga fired home from close range a minute into injury time to complete a comfortable 6-2 victory.

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