Malandela Mighty Heroes still in with a chance for SAB League championship
JOBURG -– Malandela Mighty Heroes are comfortably fifth on the log of the SAB League and fighting for honours.
Malandela Mighty Heroes still stand a mighty chance of challenging for the SAB League championship following their 2–1 victory over Westbury’s FC Munich at the Alexandra Stadium.
Heroes’ opening goal of the match came in the ninth minute when Obakeng Ramahlo scored from a beautiful Nkateko ‘Di Maria’ Pandeka pass. Pandeka takes his nickname from Argentina international Angel Di Maria.
The goal came after the hard-working and stylish Richard Mokgoshi had fluffed a number of scoring opportunities for the home side.
Mokgoshi is one of the five mandatory U21 players that must be featured by each team in any SAB League matches as part of the development of youngsters.
But the Mighty Heroes joy was short-lived when Kagiso Mokua found the equaliser. Not to be outdone, Delford Makwala’s boot quickly put the Mighty Heroes back in the driving seat once again.
Heroes’ Themba Lukhubeni was given a yellow card for a bad tackle while FC Munich’s, Makotsong Ntshabeleng also earned a yellow.
Pandeka was substituted for Rich Madokgole while FC Munich replaced Larry Sydney for Antletse Tsheole. Ten minutes before the final whistle, coach Buti Phiri of Mighty Heroes brought on talented youngster Tshepang ‘Messi’ Phala in the place of Mokgoshi.
The exciting Phala, who had been the main cog in Heroes’ U13, U15 and U17 teams, received overwhelming applause from the spectators each time he had the ball at his feet.
“Phala is one of several players that we will be graduating from the junior ranks to boost our senior team, and we’re going to start him [slowly] with a few minutes left in the game so he gets a feel of it before being put in the deep end,” said assistant coach Vincent ‘Young Master’ Rammoni.
Afterwards, Phiri said they still had a chance to challenge for the honours. “We’re currently in fifth position and a mere six points separate us and the pacesetters.”
FC Munich coach Reagan Jackson lamented what he called ‘poor officiating’ which he claimed had cost them the match. There was a nasty exchange of words between him and one assistant referee at the end of the game.
Jackson showered his men with praise for an ‘outstanding’ game. “I think they played very well under the circumstances,” he said in reference to his claim of bad officiating in the game.
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