The Boksburg Football Club hit a slump that would drag until the end of last season.
At the time it also seemed that because the squad knew there was little to nothing to play for, they let the season peter out and had little intention of fixing the issues that made the 2018 campaign a failure.
What led to the dismal campaign for the Blues included a shortage of players, fitness, lack of discipline and/or commitment to the club’s course – particularly from the senior players.
Fast forward to the new campaign, which is now six games in, and the same problems are apparently still plaguing the local side led by coach Ernest Seforo. Except this time around, the leading issue is the hole left by a mass exodus of players during the off-season.
Seforo’s men met fellow ELFA Super League strugglers Germiston at PG Park on April 6 in a match that ended up in yet another defeat for the Blues.
Both teams came in the encounter without having won a game this season and it was made clear by how both sets of sides wanted the ‘W’. In the end, however, only one team could win and it was the visitors who, after trailing 3-2 at half-time, turned things around to emerge as 5-3 victors.
The Blues showed moments of brilliance, which is perhaps the only silver lining amid their struggles, especially when they netted two quick goals moments before the half-time whistle.
But unfortunately for the club’s followers, the biggest takeaway from the clash is that Boksburg have now played six games and are yet to register a win.
Coach Seforo summed up the performance perfectly: “We scored goals, but couldn’t defend well.”
Indeed, their moments of brilliance alluded to above was visible when the home side was on the offence with clever runs behind the Germiston backline and slick passing troubling the visitors’ defence all afternoon long.
Blues captain and midfielder Kagisano ‘Sgora’ Seforo and in-form forward Lawrence Nyembe were the protagonists for the home side – and both completed impressive outings with a goal each.
However, it was Germiston who drew first blood through an Eddy Mokotedi early strike, a goal that would trigger a good game for the Germiston man.
But after getting into their stride and in search of the equaliser, Boksburg looked menacing going forward. They gradually built-up pressure in search of the equaliser and what increasingly looked inevitable, came to reality through an absolute peach by Sgora.
The midfield maestro gathered a loose ball just outside the Germiston box before calmly placing a powerful grass cutter past goalminder Sibusiso Shongwe which hit the upright before going in.
Former skipper Dylan Africa helped his side take the lead for the first time, tapping in a rebound from a set-piece.
The Blues now had their tails up and the run of play was in their favour. Nyembe made it three after the forward benefitted from Boksburg, winning a midfield battle which released him to the Germiston goal. He neatly controlled the ball before rolling it past Shongwe.
But the Blues conceded at the worst time to concede in a football match: at the stroke of half-time. Mokotedi completed his brace against the run of play to reduce the deficit to one.
Mokotedi’s second proved to be the turning point as Germiston substitute Rufai Tunde levelled matters to make it three-all. He restored his team’s lead and completed his hat-trick as the Blues’ defensive frailties returned to haunt them.
Takudswa Jack put the result beyond doubt with his side’s fifth in the dying minutes, helping his side register its first win and ensuring Boksburg wait at least a week longer to register their sought-after ‘W’.
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