On Saturday JD Dlepu stadium was host to the U15 Gijima ’n Leisure Football tournament semi finals. The first semis saw City Pirates, playing Local Football log leaders Young Killers in a crunch match.
On Saturday JD Dlepu stadium was host to the U15 Gijima ’n Leisure Football tournament semi finals. The first semis saw City Pirates, playing Local Football log leaders Young Killers in a crunch match.
Killers overpowered the Pirates side and Siphamandla Nohesi and Andile Booi scored the two goals that brought Killers a 2-0 victory and a ticket to the finals.
Italy had beaten Future Stars in the previous round and played against the Mighty Chiefs, who are second placed in the league, in what was the second semi finals.
Both teams started off fairly well attacking each other in the opening stages. Deep into the first half the players started feeling the pressure and several fouls arose from both sides.
A red card was issued to a Chiefs player after the players were entangled in a fight. In the second half a careless defence almost cost the Chiefs when the ball was snatched by Italy in the left flank, only to shoot off wide.
With 19 minutes into the second half from a run down Italy’s left flank swept the ball across the face of goal but found no one as players arrived late.
In the 30th minute of the second half, the tenmen Chiefs broke the deadlock when Nkululeko Booi shot a long range from outside the 18 yard area, beating the keeper in the left corner.
This was followed by an attempt at goal from Italy but the Chiefs goalie produced a great save. In the dying minutes two Italy players were red carded for foul play as pressure was building up.
The game ended 1-0 to Killers who were to face Mighty Chiefs in the finals. On Sunday City Pirates and Italy completed in a third and fourth place play off match prior the finals, where Pirates won 2-1.
The finals saw a battle of the mighties as Mighty Chiefs played Young Killers who have scored an extensive amount of goals already in the league.
The top teams played an equally contested finals that eventually saw Killers beating Chiefs by three goals to two. Killers were not only number one on the log but also in the tournament as they took the first prize.
“It was a really big success and we’d like to thank the coaches and teams for releasing the players and parents for allowing the youngsters to go out and play.
“Another vote of thanks also to the sponsors and to Grocott’s Mail for their media coverage. Killers might have won the finals but all who participated in the tournament is a winner,” said organiser Anga Ngcebetsha. He also called on coaches and teams to return to training camps as the season starts again soon.
