Sad day as the cookie crumbles
BALFOUR PARK - It was another sad day for Alex football, three years in a row, when Alex United failed to qualify for the promotional play-offs on their way to National First Division (NFD).
It was another sad day for Alex football when Alex United failed to qualify for the play-offs to gain promotion to the National First Division (NFD).
A flat and disjointed United, which only needed a minimum result of a draw to win the ABC Motsepe League and qualify for the NFD promotional play-offs were beaten 2-0 by African All Stars.
In the 2014 season, Hope City Giants led the pack in the league for a considerable time and only needed a draw against Highlands Park to bag the league, but were also beaten 2-0 to dash their dreams.
Stars were the first to draw blood in the 37th minute through the boot of their star striker, Mpho Lemako.
He was at it again when the teams returned from the half-time break and added his second in the 74th minute.
United then brought on their playmaker, Collins Zimba, striker Pedro Marques and holding midfielder, Katlego ‘Skates’ Mbatha, all to no avail.
Zimba did his best to infuse a sense of urgency in the team and his thunderous shot went just centimetres over the crossbar.
Marques missed one of the easiest tap-ins that may have changed the course of the
game.
A delighted Stars coach, Washington Tsotetsi said although he had won the league, the fight was not over as he had to take his team through the NFD promotional
play-offs.
Asked what went wrong for the third season in a row, United’s coach Tracy Pepper could only mumble, “I don’t know”.
Pressed about her boys not being in the game and lacking the necessary hunger for goals, Pepper said, “We strategised for the game, gave them enough rest and did everything coaches would normally do, but still we could not get the results.”
A disappointed Alex United club chairperson Nkani Dube said, “It’s back to the drawing board once again.”
The fans were also upset.
“I am devastated,” said United’s number one fan, Edward Chauke.
Supporters co-ordinator, Khotso Mofolo who was fighting back tears, said supporters would demand answers as to what happened.
“It can’t be for three seasons in succession,” he commented.
