The 2015 Castle lager Football Academy camp ended on a high note, with the SuperStars edging out yet another PSL team, AmaZulu 2 – 1 in a friendly match on Saturday January 31.
The win brought to an end a highly successful 2015 campaign. The Academy players will be making their way back to their respective clubs today. The Castle Academy SuperStars went into the match having won three games, 5 – 2 against Highlands Park, 1 – 0 against AmaTuks, 4 – 3 against Bidvest Wits, and only suffering a 2 – 1 loss against Mamelodi Sundowns.
They were eager to end the camp on a high note, with a positive result against Usuthu, something they managed to achieve thanks in large part to some quality defending and poor finishing from the KwaZulu-Natal outfit. First-half goals from Lloyd Mbumbe and Eethe ‘Candy’ Khaukanani secured the win for Neil Tovey and Phil Masinga’s boys.
Castle SuperStars grabbed the lead as early as the ninth minute. The ball fell favourably for Mbumbe from a corner-kick, and with no AmaZulu players around him, the pint-sized midfielder who plays for Newlands United in KwaZulu Natal fired an unstoppable effort into the back of the net.
Khaukanani extended the lead for the Castle SuperStars after he successfully beat the offside trap, slotting the ball into the back of the net, making it 2-0.
AmaZulu turned up the heat in the second half, with Ayanda Dlamini getting a goal for the PSL team.
“The quality of players we had this season was amazing, and that was immediately visible on the field of play. In a short period, the players got to know each other and played like a team that has been together for months. They were dedicated, listened to instructions and enjoyed themselves,” said Neil Tovey.
Errol Madlala, SAB Sponsorship Manager, expressed his satisfaction at how the campaign is growing from strength to strength every year. “Our objective is to give the players exposure in a professional football set-up and an opportunity to be scouted by higher league coaches and scouts, with the hope to one day see them play in the national team. It the first time since the inception of this campaign two years ago that the Castle Lager Academy team managed to beat PSL clubs in friendly matches, and we are looking forward to hearing success stories of players being offered opportunities by PSL or NFD clubs.”
