By Chris Totobela
Once again, local football lovers made their way to the only available football field in Makhanda – King’s Field at Rhodes University.
On show was another double header involving two local sides on the opposite ends of the log table.
Jacaranda Aces eased their relegation woes when they defeated Young Pirates from Port Alfred in the first game of the day. Abachathazi won with three comfortable unanswered goals.
Next up was the hope of Makhanda football and title contenders Maru FC against another title-chasing outfit, Eleven United from Bathurst, in a thrill-a-minute encounter.
The home side took the game to their opponents from the first whistle and put them under enormous pressure, giving them no space to breathe. The visitors spent most of the first half absorbing pressure while showing glimpses of how dangerous they can sometimes be.
Maru created many chances in the first quarter of the game but was once again guilty of letting the opposition off the hook. United’s resistance ended in the 18th minute – a perfect cross from the left was headed against the crossbar by Maru’s top marksman Vuyani Skeyi. The ball bounced back into play, with the keeper well beaten, and was finished with another good header by Aluve “Mane” Ntelo to give the home side a well-deserved lead.
Maru could have easily doubled the lead but seemed to rush in the last third of the field. The home side took their slender lead to the halftime break.
In the second half, both teams made a few substitutions to try and influence the game in their favour.
United started gaining confidence and put Maru on the back foot, forcing them to defend deep in their half. Maru seemed to lose their rhythm, unnecessarily giving away possession too easily, and did not play with the same confidence and authority as they did in the first half.
In the 62nd minute, Aphiwe “Pogba” Payi missed a game-changing opportunity when he outsprinted United’s defence. He was one-on-one with the goalkeeper but ballooned the ball over the crossbar as he tried to lob the on-coming keeper.
The home side finally succumbed to pressure in the 76th minute when United’s top player, Gcobani ” Mthakathi zindabad” Sokuyeka, blasted home a grass cutter that left the keeper in no man’s land after quick inter-passing on the edge of Maru’s penalty area to bring his side level.
Both sides used the remaining minutes to search for a winner, but it was the visitors who looked more dangerous. The referee blew the final whistle, and both teams shared the spoils. and United would be the happier of the two as it was a well-deserved away point.
Maru could have buried United in the first half, but their lack of composure in front of goals dealt them a huge blow. In the second half, they stopped playing and dictating terms and only responded to what the opponents threw at them.
Speaking to GM after the game, United’s coach and manager, Andile “Ace” Marasi, praised his boys. “In the first half, we were not in the game as Maru was on top of us, but in the second half, we made some changes, taking out some of our U21 players and bringing on experienced players to try and contain Maru. We forced them to defend and could have easily won the game.”
Marasi also commented on the prospect of lifting the title. “We will take the point and move on. I always tell my boys not to worry about what is going on in other games but to focus and win our games. This league is too tight, and anyone can win it, but we will take it one game at a time.”
Maru’s coach, Siya Dumiso, was not pleased with his charges’ lack of killer instinct. “I will start to sound like a broken record now as my boys are still creating many chances but unable to convert them. Our opponents devised a good plan in the second half, which was a very tactical game.
“In such games, if you don’t use your chances, you can expect these kinds of results. We wanted to win this game to close the gap between us and the log leaders, but it wasn’t to be. My boys played very well, and we need to convert our chances.”
The small crowd of fans were on the edge of their seats for the entire game.
