Bens bounce back with a win
After some varied results in the ELFA Super League, lately, it appears as if Old Bens Football Club’s first team are gradually adjusting to life in the competition.
With a 2-0 win over Union, at Currin Park, on Saturday, May 9, things are looking better for coach Raymond Cloete’s men after their 2-1 defeat against Randburg, the previous week.
“We are getting mentally stronger and adjusting to the faster pace of the game in this league,” said the coach.
Saturday’s clash was a physical encounter and both sides put up a strong challenge.
Both had decent half-chances and the deadlock was broken when prolific Old Bens striker Bilal Hajee Mohammed scored his eighth goal of the season, to give Bens the lead.
Confidence started to grow for the hosts and winger Sonnyboy Mkwanazi scored a terrific lob over the Union goalkeeper to give Bens a 2-0 lead going into the break.
In the second period, Union pushed hard to get back into the game, but Cloete’s new central midfield pair of 18-year-old Kegan Bailey and Melosi Ndlovu, had a firm hold in the middle of the park, while Mkwanazi and Silas Modau worked hard out on the flanks.
The match ended 2-0 in favour of the Benoni outfit.
Cloete recently introduced post-match video analysis and, according to him, this has improved the team’s work rate.
“I am extremely happy with the players’ performance on Saturday,” he said.
“The guys showed 110 per cent effort.”
This Saturday, Old Bens travel to Alberton and are expecting a hard game.
