South America’s first Olympic Games kicked off with women’s soccer yesterday, when Sweden beat South Africa 1-0 in Rio de Janeiro.
Although the opening ceremony takes place tomorrow, the soccer competitions began ahead of time with six women’s matches yesterday and another eight men’s games today.
The opening action at Rio’s Olympic stadium was lacklustre with few clear chances. Nilla Fischer scored Sweden’s winner after 74 minutes, bundling the ball into the net with her knee after the South African keeper failed to hold a cross.
Sweden were superior, particularly in the first half, but could not turn possession into goals. The result means SA have yet to win an Olympic soccer match in their four finals appearances.
The second game in Group A took place later last night when home side Brazil, seeking their first Olympic gold after two silver medal performances, took on China.
Holders and number one ranked side the United States play New Zealand at night in Belo Horizonte.
The men’s competition begins today with eight games, including Brazil against Bafana Bafana U23’s and holders Mexico versus Germany.
• Marc Strdyom reports, that Keagan Dolly‚ SA’s answer to Neymar when the men’s Olympic team meet Brazil tonight (8.50pm)‚ has been named captain of the side.
The Mamelodi Sundowns winger will be looking to crown his best season with a starring performance on a global stage.
“Keagan has grown as a player in the past few months‚ and don’t forget he captained the side through the qualifiers in Senegal late last year‚” said SA U23 coach Owen da Gama.
Dolly has had practically no off-season, having played a key role in Sundowns reaching the Caf Champions League semifinals‚ meaning he only joined his Olympic teammates last week. He said he needed his scoring run-out in SA’s 4-0 win against the Brazil police department on Saturday as crucial preparation for today’s meeting with the hosts at Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha in Brasilia (9pm SA time‚ 4pm Brazil time).
“I’ve missed out on all the recent camps. I only came to Brazil with the team and I felt like I had missed out a lot‚” the Downs star said.
“Playing in that friendly helped me get back in sync with the team and just prepare well for the tournament.
“I felt playing and getting used to the new players‚ and just getting used to everyone again‚ was crucial.
“My last three months have been quite busy. But it’s been good – I’ve won things with Sundowns‚ I’ve qualified for the Olympics. And I’m just happy to be part of the Olympic team. Everything’s going well on my side.”
This has been the most critical arrival year so far in Dolly’s career‚ transferring to Sundowns from Ajax Cape Town at the start of last season and going on to win a Premier League and Telkom Knockout double.
He made a Bafana Bafana breakthrough, scoring two superb long-range goals in a 4-0 Africa Cup of Nations away thrashing of Gambia in Bakau in June.
Dolly’s emergence from a future Bafana star to a talent for the present comes on the back of a season at Downs where he found consistency after having been a mercurial‚ injury-plagued winger with potential at Ajax. — Reuters- Tiso Black Star Group Digital
Banyana slip in opening tie
Although the opening ceremony takes place tomorrow, the soccer competitions began ahead of time with six women’s matches yesterday and another eight men’s games today.
The opening action at Rio’s Olympic stadium was lacklustre with few clear chances. Nilla Fischer scored Sweden’s winner after 74 minutes, bundling the ball into the net with her knee after the South African keeper failed to hold a cross.
Sweden were superior, particularly in the first half, but could not turn possession into goals. The result means SA have yet to win an Olympic soccer match in their four finals appearances.
The second game in Group A took place later last night when home side Brazil, seeking their first Olympic gold after two silver medal performances, took on China.
Holders and number one ranked side the United States play New Zealand at night in Belo Horizonte.
The men’s competition begins today with eight games, including Brazil against Bafana Bafana U23’s and holders Mexico versus Germany.
• Marc Strdyom reports, that Keagan Dolly‚ SA’s answer to Neymar when the men’s Olympic team meet Brazil tonight (8.50pm)‚ has been named captain of the side.
The Mamelodi Sundowns winger will be looking to crown his best season with a starring performance on a global stage.
“Keagan has grown as a player in the past few months‚ and don’t forget he captained the side through the qualifiers in Senegal late last year‚” said SA U23 coach Owen da Gama.
Dolly has had practically no off-season, having played a key role in Sundowns reaching the Caf Champions League semifinals‚ meaning he only joined his Olympic teammates last week. He said he needed his scoring run-out in SA’s 4-0 win against the Brazil police department on Saturday as crucial preparation for today’s meeting with the hosts at Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha in Brasilia (9pm SA time‚ 4pm Brazil time).
“I’ve missed out on all the recent camps. I only came to Brazil with the team and I felt like I had missed out a lot‚” the Downs star said.
“Playing in that friendly helped me get back in sync with the team and just prepare well for the tournament.
“I felt playing and getting used to the new players‚ and just getting used to everyone again‚ was crucial.
“My last three months have been quite busy. But it’s been good – I’ve won things with Sundowns‚ I’ve qualified for the Olympics. And I’m just happy to be part of the Olympic team. Everything’s going well on my side.”
This has been the most critical arrival year so far in Dolly’s career‚ transferring to Sundowns from Ajax Cape Town at the start of last season and going on to win a Premier League and Telkom Knockout double.
He made a Bafana Bafana breakthrough, scoring two superb long-range goals in a 4-0 Africa Cup of Nations away thrashing of Gambia in Bakau in June.
Dolly’s emergence from a future Bafana star to a talent for the present comes on the back of a season at Downs where he found consistency after having been a mercurial‚ injury-plagued winger with potential at Ajax. — Reuters- Tiso Black Star Group Digital
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