Regional champions Emalahleni Rainbow FC fall short in provincial cup bid
Rainbow FC's U19 ladies reached the Mpumalanga Provincial Premier Cup semi-finals after winning the SAFA Regional Women's Cup.
Emalahleni Rainbow FC’s U19 ladies’ team continued its progress in Mpumalanga football after winning the SAFA Regional Women’s Cup and reaching the Mpumalanga Provincial Premier Cup semi-finals. Rainbow FC was crowned regional champion in June, earning the opportunity to represent its region at the provincial tournament held in Mbombela on July 18.
The team put in a strong performance in the provincial competition before its campaign came to an end in the semi-finals. Rainbow FC faced East High Academy in a closely contested match that ended 2-2 after regulation time. East High Academy won 3-1 on penalties.
Head coach Sdumo Mnguni said, “I’m very happy and humbled. This shows that all the hard work, sacrifice, and sweat on the training ground are paying off. We may have fallen short, but we have shown that Rainbow FC is growing every season.”
Mnguni said the team’s performance was also a reflection of the growing competitiveness of football in the Emalahleni region. “It proves that our region is among the strongest in the Mpumalanga SAFA Provincial League structures. Our focus now is to continue improving in the league because that remains our main priority. This tournament was a great experience for the players, and it was the first time for many of them. Hopefully, we will return even stronger next time.”
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The club’s progress is also evident through the development of its young players.
Promising youngsters Tsheiso Mayila (13) and Thandolwethu Mashaba (12) were recently selected for Mamelodi Sundowns’ development programmes.
“As a coach, there is no better feeling than seeing young players get opportunities to showcase their talent. Their selection is proof that our development programme is producing quality players, and I believe many more will follow in their footsteps,” Mnguni said.
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