Iphutheng boys boot their way to semi-finals of the Discovery Alex Schools League

Iphutheng Primary School boys’ football team became the first side to boot its way into the semi-finals of the Discovery Alex U13 Schools League.

This was a wafa-wafa game against a gritty Gordon Primary School side which could have qualified for the semi-finals had it won the game as both outfits were tied on eight points on the log. Instead, Iphutheng won 3-0.

Iphutheng was the first to ask questions of the Gordon keeper when Oscar Malemo thundered a shot from inside the box but fluffed it as he ballooned the glorious opportunity.

That strike was quickly followed up by yet another from Neo Sokana who made no mistake in pencilling his name on the scoreboard. Gordon’s Nkululeko Fox quickly showed his intentions of wanting to cancel that score line but his attempt to beat Iphutheng’s man between the sticks, Katlego Moseamedi ballooned over the crossbar.

Oscar made another attempt to put his team 2–0 up but that was never to be as that moment fell to the brilliant man of the match Omphile Mbewe who did put Iphutheng two up.

When the boys returned for the second stanza, Neo ‘The Menace’ was at it again when got his brace with his first touch of the ball. Neo’s teammate Omphile, another thorn in the flesh of the Gordon side, made two attempts at scoring, one going narrowly wide of the upright while the other was comfortably saved by the keeper.

Gordon’s Thato Junior Mashope narrowly missed a consolation goal when his strike went inches over the crossbar, and the full-time score remained 3–0.

Iphutheng coach and teacher Lota Kekana was impressed with the brilliance of his boys and predicted his team would go all the way to annex the trophy that they have won twice before.

Asked whether the trophy was already there for his side’s taking, Kekana retorted ‘obvious’.

Meanwhile, a solitary goal from Ikage Primary School girl Thokozani Botha against Gordon Primary School girls’ team was not enough to earn Ikage a berth in the semi-finals of the tournament in the girls’ section, as both schools were eliminated.

Despite the brilliance of Gordon star player Bokamoso Albertus who was a thorn in the Ikage defence, her solo brilliance could not yield the result for Gordon as they failed to register their name on the scoreboard.

Their only consolation is that their nemesis, Ikage may have won the match but were beaten in the battle as they too failed to make it to the semis of the tournament.

All the schools that have qualified for the semis are as follows:
Girls’ Division

• MC Weiler Primary School
• Ekukhanyisweni Primary School
• Dr Knak Primary School
• Ithute Primary School.

Boys’ Division

• Zenzeleni Primary School
• Carter Primary School
• Iphutheng Primary School
• Bovet Primary School.