Sandringham side Royal Lions deposed from ANLFA Promotional League summit vow to come back
ALEXANDRA – The Sandringham-based Royal Lions FC, which has been roaring at the summit of the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association Promotional League since the start of the season five months ago, has been deposed with only six matches to go.
The Lion Kings, as they are popularly known to their fans, now lie in third position with 46 points from 20 matches. Second-placed Dra FC has the same number of points as the Lions but has a superior goal difference.
The leader of the pack is now Black Poison FC, which has 51 points from 20 games. Poison coach Bruce Buthelezi said, “We’re not going anywhere. Now that we’re at the top, our aim now is to stick there until the end of the season.”
But Lions coach Donavan Mahlangu has other ideas. “We’re not pressing any panic buttons as yet as I believe this is but a temporary setback and that the team will bounce back to its rightful position,” said Mahlangu at the end of his game against Ma-Afrika FC on 12 May, which his team lost 2–1.
“We just have to go back to the drawing board and map out what went wrong and make the necessary correctional measures. Six games to the end of the season is a long way and anything can happen in those six games.”
Although disappointed with the loss, Mahlangu said his men had played well and deserved a draw. in the game played at Altrek Sports Ground.
Both teams had their fair share of fluffed opportunities that could have easily been converted into goals. Mpendulo Somtsai’s boot opened the scoring for Ma-Afrika in less than 20 minutes into the game to give his side a 1–0 lead.
But the never-say-die Lions launched a well-coordinated hunt for their prey, resulting in Juma Ramadhani levelling the score in the dying minutes of the first half.
On resumption, Ma-Afrika’s Tumelo Moshandiba struck a powerful shot from the edge of the box which Lions goal minder Mfundi Mthethwa, had to put his body on the line to block the strike that had a goal written all over it.
As the action swung to the other end, Simfumene Nonqotho registered a second goal for Ma-Afrika that sealed the win for his team that ensured they collected maximum points to lift them to 29 points from 20 games.
Just before the referee blew for full time, Lions’ Thando Dube could have levelled matters had he no lifted his head up before thundering a shot wide off the posts.
Although Ma-Afrika coach Khathu Monyae was delighted to have avenged the 3–0 first round defeat they suffered at the hands of the Lions, the win still sees his team rooted in the seventh spot.
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