The first game of the Grahamstown High Schools Football League, second round, took place last Wednesday after the first two scheduled matches were abandoned.
The first game of the Grahamstown High Schools Football League, second round, took place last Wednesday after the first two scheduled matches were abandoned.
The match took place between Ntsika Secondary School and Khutliso Daniels Secondary School, with Ntsika going on to win the match 2-0- even though for the entire match they lacked one player to complete their eleven.
Ntsika, under the tutelage of Solomon Johnson, who is a teacher at the school and a Rhodes University graduate, took to the field as if it was the last game they would ever play.
Khutliso failed dismally to take advantage of a team with one man less and none at the bench. Ntsika’s star player, Kwanele Mralaza controlled the midfield with aplomb, backed up by hard working Tshunungwa Tulo at centre back.
Quick Mralaza proved to be a menace to the sleepy defence of the depleted Khutliso who seemed to have no answers at the middle of the park to stop Ntsika attacking.
The two teams went to half time at a stalemate with Ntsika havoing missed out on many opportunities. Just minutes into the second half Ntsika’s attacker, Akhona Khonzaphi dribbled his way to the disappointing Khutliso defence and scored the first goal of the match, to the relief of his coach who seemed to be losing his patience as his attackers kept firing blanks.
Immediately after the first goal Khutliso seemed to finally receive a wake-up call from the side with one player less, as they went on to attack vigorously, only leaving a void at the back that almost got them punished a few moments later when Athulile Cakhwebe came close to scoring. Khutliso’s agile keeper made the save.
Halfway into the second half Ntsika scored a much-needed second goal to seal a victory that was never really far away. The second goal of the match was scored by Siyabulela Tata.
From that moment it was a one way match with Ntsika’s Mralaza show boating with his teammates as the opposing team looked on.
The next High Schools league match takes place tomorrow between Ntsika and Nathaniel Nyaluza Secondary School at 3pm.
On Friday, Benjamin Mahlasela Secondary School face Mary Waters Secondary School. All high school league matches are played at JD Dlepu Stadium.
