By Keabetswe Taele
Banyana Banyana striker Noko Matlou continued to be a menace at the African women's championship, scoring all the goals to send the South African side close to the dream of lifting the continental crown for the first time.
But despite her efforts, the South African side lost out on becoming only the second side to triumph in the women's championship, which has been dominated by Nigeria since inception.
Banyana are now two times unlucky in a big match of a Caf African Women's Championship after losing 2-1 to Equatorial Guinea in the final last Saturday.
The 22-year-old Limpopo-born goal shooter made her team proud when she scored the equaliser in the final, bringing to six the number of goals she scored throughout the competition and was later lauded as the tournament's most prolific scorer earning herself the Golden Boot award as well as the plaudits as the second best player of the tournament.
Matlou, who made her international debut only in December last year, still thinks that in spite of Banyana becoming runners up for the second time since the inception of the tournament, believes her teammates should hold their heads high for a job well done.
It was the first time Banyana reached the finals since 2000, the first time they won their group since 2000 (this time before even the last group match was played) and the first time they beat Ghana since 2000.
"There is nothing harder than playing the hosts in front of their supporters.
"Yet we played well from the beginning to the end and in my heart I know we deserved the title, but luck wasn't on our side. We were the best team there," says Matlou. She goes on to accentuate that if one is associated with the likes of Veronica Phewa, who she regards as the best, you also strive to give your best.
Team manager Fran Hilton-Smith says the team played well and proved that they are worthy.
She adds that they were just unlucky not to lift the trophy.
"They demonstrated a great SA football style and free-kick conversions."
She went on to single out Matlou for praise.
Banyana got the Fair Play award for the fewest yellow cards.