SuperStars end camp on a high note
BALFOUR PARK - The 2015 Castle lager Football Academy camp ended on a high note with the SuperStars edging out yet another Absa Premiership team, AmaZulu 2-1 in a friendly match.
The 2015 Castle lager Football Academy camp ended on a high note with the SuperStars edging out yet another Absa Premiership team, AmaZulu 2-1 in a friendly match.
The win brought to an end a highly successful 2015 campaign for the SuperStars. The academy players will now be making their way back to their respective clubs. The SuperStars went into the match having won three games – 5-2 against National First Division side Highlands Park; 1-0 against AmaTuks; 4-3 against Bidvest Wits – with a 2-1 loss against Mamelodi Sundowns.
The SuperStars were eager to end the camp on a high with a positive result against Usuthu, something they managed to achieve thanks in large to some quality defending and poor finishing from the Durban outfit in KwaZulu-Natal.
First-half goals from Lloyd Mbumbe and Eethe ‘Candy’ Khaukanani secured the win for Neil Tovey and Phil Masinga’s boys in a match played at the Balfour Park Stadium.
The 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 SuperStars after he successfully beat the offside trap, making it 2-0. AmaZulu turned up the heat in the second half and their efforts were rewarded when Ayanda Dlamini scored for the bottom of the Premier Soccer League team.
“The quality of players we had this season was amazing and that was immediately visible on the field of play,” said Tovey. “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.”
Errol Madlala, SAB sponsorship manager expressed his satisfaction at how the campaign was 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’s the first time since the inception of this campaign two years ago, that the Castle Lager Academy team managed to beat premier league clubs in friendly matches, and we are looking forward to hearing success stories of players being offered opportunities,” Madlala said.
