Hundreds of spectators flocked to Fiddlers green on Saturday to watch the two giants in Grahamstown soccer, Eleven Attackers and City Pirates, in their league clash. The game was a South African Football Association Cacadu SAB Regional League match. Attackers and Pirates are the only two Grahamstown sides in the league.
Hundreds of spectators flocked to Fiddlers green on Saturday to watch the two giants in Grahamstown soccer, Eleven Attackers and City Pirates, in their league clash. The game was a South African Football Association Cacadu SAB Regional League match. Attackers and Pirates are the only two Grahamstown sides in the league.
The match did not disappoint, getting off at a fast pace as both sides attempted to show their dominance. The goalkeepers were brought into action early in the game, both making early saves.
Once the game began to settle, it was City Pirates who took charge and called the shots. They began to dominate ball possession and this paid off with a goal just over 10 minutes into the match. It was Mandilakhe Ntsendwana who set up the goal, passing to Thabo Rafa, who put the ball in the open net as the Attackers keeper was down on the other side of the post. The first half ended in with Pirates still ahead 1-0.
The second half belonged to Pirates, who dominated in all areas and came away with a second goal to win the derby match 2-0. Ntsendwana went on to score the second goal for Pirates.
Pirates coach Thobela Baba said he was happy with his side's performance on Saturday, adding that “all was up to scratch, from defence, to midfielders to the strikers”.
After Saturday's match, City Pirates were in fourth spot on the log. The side then played against Teenagers in a catch-up match on Sunday. They won 12-1 and after the second win of the weekend, City Pirates find themselves in second position on the log. They will be hoping to take the lead this weekend when they face Young Chiefs at Fiddlers on Saturday. A win against Young Chiefs would put Pirates in the lead of the log, according to goal difference.
All Stars are top of the log after their seven games, with 16 points, with Pirates second on 13 points. Teenagers are third with 11 points.
Eleven Attackers, who have played all seven of their first-round games, are bottom of the log in eighth position with four points.
The second round of the Cacadu league is scheduled to start on Saturday 18 February.
