Alex Royal Tigers makes it three out of three in Map Games 2019

There is a new king of Alex football crowned at the 2019 Maimane Alfred Phiri (Map) Games and he goes by the name of Thembinkosi ‘Tiger’ Matholengwe.

His Alex Royal Tigers SC made it four out of four in the semi-finals but his U15 team was unlucky when they crashed out of the semis in one of the most fiercely contested divisions of the Map Games in its 19-year history.

The U15s lost to Gunners 7–4 on sudden death penalties after the teams were deadlocked 0–0 after full time. Both keepers made magnificent saves to keep their sides in contention for the final but at some point one team had to give in and that was unfortunately Alex Royal Tigers.

Tiger, as the young club owner is well known in Alex football circles, guided three of his teams into the finals, the defending champions of the U13 division and his U17s and U19s, all of which were crowned champions, making it three out of three for his club.

The U13 side successfully defended their championship of the Map Games which they won last year in their second year as finalists, this time against a spirited Alex Real Madrid side which they beat by a solitary goal netted through the boot of Marcus Mphaphuli.

Marcus, a Leicester Road Primary School in Kensington learner, lobbed the ball over an advancing keeper to produce a spectacular goal that had the noisy fans up on their feet and cheering the sheer intelligence of the strike.

Before netting his goal, Marcus had attempted another thunderous strike that unfortunately went straight into the hands of Spaniards keeper, as Alex Real Madrid are well known to their loyal fans.

Spaniards coach Mocks Maseko said it was back to the drawing board for him and his team and that preparations for next year’s tournament began now. “I have to start moulding my team now for next year and my biggest joy is that most of the players will still be in the same squad,” he said.

In the U17 division, Tigers won 4–3 on penalties after the team was deadlocked 2–2 with United Stars at full time, while in the U19 division Tigers beat the much fancied Malandela Mighty Heroes 4–2, again on penalties after the sides were deadlocked at 1–1.

This was three out of three for Tiger and when approached for comment, he simply said, ‘mission accomplished’. Tiger said he thanked the All Mighty for the wisdom to win the games, and the boys who played their hearts out.

In the U15 division, in which Gunners had disposed of Tiger’s team to reach the final, the Gunners came face to face with United Stars. The Gunners were unlucky not to lift the trophy in their sixth attempt in a row in this division after they were beaten 3–2.