Mathabatha Success fc 8 men in the field inaugurated as champions

 

Mathabatha Success the champions of Lepelle Nkumpi Promotional Play-offs (Image: Dorothy Mokoena)

On Sunday morning the weather was partly cloudy, sunny and a bit chilly, yet teams participated for semi-finals others advanced to the finals. When they rested masters rocked the field.

 Before finals (Image: Dorothy Mokoena)

Play-offs where graced by SAFA Capricorn region officials, Lepelle Nkumpi officials, Baroka F.C (Head Coach Matsemela Thoka and Owner Khurishi Mphahlele) to witness show stoppers from athletes that came for regional play-offs.

Let's savor the finals

Mathole Lakers vs Mathabatha Success finals moment of silence (Image: Dorothy Mokoena)

Lakers threads a decent ball in for them, but keeper got to it first. Success goal keeper with a long ball from inside his own half, but Lakers player has cut out the danger. Lakers played in but missed a target with their shot. Success intended a goal, it evades all inside the box. Lakers had a free-kick but they have put a little too much power behind the ball. 

Image: Dorothy Mokoena

Success again was alert enough to scramble for a vital stop after a failed clearance. Both teams before half time unleashed shots from just inside the box, but sended their efforts wide. Half time arrived with the two teams still goalless, opportunities came at both ends with neither side capitalizing. 

Success shot at goal and they missed with a long range above the net. Lakers shot at goal but it passed the net with an inch to the other side of the field and later got the ball in the back of the net, but the assistant referee's flag was already up.

Image: Dorothy Mokoena

The resultant corner yielded another desperate stop from Success defense. Lakers went just over the cross bar after a net cross. Success cleared on goal, only be denied by the offside flag. Full time a tense battle ends on goalless 0-0 at Baroka Village.

Image: Dorothy Mokoena
 

They went to penalty shoot-out, Lakers scored 4 goals one missed by captain kicked over the nets and the sudden death goal that hit the poles couple of times went outside. Success claimed victory but the captain kicked on side of the net and sudden death netted 5th goals. 

(Image: Dorothy Mokoena)Succes going to take their trophy

Mathabatha Success will face Four districts on Provincial Men's Regional League Play-offs in Vhembe district on 3rd and 4th July, fight for a spot to the SAB League. They received 6 balls, gear and floating trophy.

Mathole Lakers are the 2nd runner-up, received 4 balls, gear and bronze medals (Image: Dorothy Mokoena)

Let's here the expressions of coaches and Baroka fc Boss

Image: Dorothy Mokoena
Head Coach of Mathole Lakers Prince Mabatane cited "It's football you know, one must must win and we can't all be winners our emotions have rose but it will get better in time". He is definitely happy with the way his boys did and he never expected that they will lose but because it happened life goes on. 

Players didn't have enough time to rest due to back to back games, fatigue took it's course on the players. "We are going back to the drawing board to improve where we have made mistakes."

Head Coach of Mathabatha Success Makgaretsa Willkings said "I'm very happy, because a lot of people never believed that we will reach this point, as they thought what we do in our team is not possible because we have a lot of teams in our area and I congratulate my boys".

They played with 9 players as far as documentation is concerned, "the strength comes from God, they kept the same spirit believed that God will help and he kept the promise" . During the finals he shouted at some of his players to not tell him how he runs the play. One intriguing statement he autoed "we managed to wallop our opponents, I'm sure other players will retire because of the massacre that we played only 8 man". 

Success taking their medals

Closing remarks instanced that "after the game, I went to the dressing room and soaked myself with tears of  joy".

Baroka F.C. Owner Khurishi Mphahlele interpolated "I feel very good about the play-offs happening at Baroka Village, the initiative was a success without incidents and I am proud of local football association and they have a team that is participating." Meanwhile he emphasized the fact that they are like family to him.

 "It is an achievement to me to host them here and I will do that even tomorrow if they ask to come back." It has always been his dream to have an event of this caliber at the village, more over they are doing the facility to benefit the community at large. For players who they have signed "I am leaving that one to the coach of MDC and senior team where available throughout, it will be up to them and I'm sure we will endorse their wish", in addition announcement of their new jersey will be done on Wednesday (tomorrow). Closed by appreciating the turn out of play-offs "...actually if you look at the winners are young stars. Some of them don't have ID's, it's encouraging that we have the future on the local municipality, we have bright future in terms of local football".

Congratulations to Mathabatha Success going to the Regional Play-offs this Saturday.

Mathabatha Success with officials who came at the event aswell as President of SAFA capricorn district Mr Mogashoa