A solitary goal from a header was enough to seal the victory for a struggling MaAfrika FC during a Johannesburg Men’s Regional League match against Varsity FC played at the Alexandra Stadium on March 18.
MaAfrika languishes at the bottom of the log in the side’s maiden season and the three points in the bag will go a long way in the league that has hardly gone past the first round.
Coach Khathu Monyae believes this win could be the start of the side’s endeavour to rake in the points to ensure the team’s survival for the next season of the league.
Much of the first half was a dull and scrappy game characterised by failure from both sides to string decent passes and neat build-ups towards both goalmouths but towards the end of the first half, the gangling MaAfrika player managed to rise above the short Varsity defenders for a neat header into the back of the net.
After the oranges break, the Varsity side came back more determined to strike twice and win the game. They bombarded both the goalmouth and the 18 area of MaAfrika in search of an equaliser and a potential winner to no avail.
Varsity’s Co-coaches Jarryd Davids and Nqobile Mlotshwa believe their players were too slow on the ball and failed to play their normal game for much of the first half but were unlucky in the second as they had upped their game.
MaAfrika’s Monyae said his side had lost confidence by virtue of being the bottom team in the league and this had affected them mentally in a number of games.
“I am happy in this game we defended well as we never conceded and I believe this could be the turning point and a start of the team’s ability to collect points that will enable it to survive in this league for another season,” Monyae said.
