SOCCER at Norkem Park High School is at a high with both the U/19 and U/15 teams taking top honours at big tournaments.
The school made history by winning the Benoni High football tournament for the second year in a row a few weeks ago. This was the icing on the cake after winning the Ekurhuleni High Schools league for the forth year in a row.
According to U/19 coach and also football coordinator at the school, Andrew Gifford, the boys started the tournament slow with a tough encounter against the hosts, Benoni High, in front of the whole school.
Benoni scored from a free kick late in the first half that beat keeper Mackson Phaka. The Norkem players never got back into the game and lost 1-0.
This seemed to kick start their campaign and they went on to beating Wordsworth High 2-0, both goals by Themba Mahlalela.
The next day they faced Boksburg High and won 3-1 with a brace from Allen Sono and another for Themba Mahlalela. This gave the coaching staff a opportunity to give debuts to Futhi Methula, Sihle Maseko, Phumlani Sello and Tsephang Morake.
The semi finals challenge was against Jeppe Boys High. Young U/16 goalkeeper, Kabelo Kganakga, started behind the veteran defenders, Sanele Maseko, Greg Motsene, Brian Masila and Lethabo Boshomoane.
The team pushed hard and won 3-0 with a rocket from Bafana Khumalo. Another brace by Allen Sonowho was supplied with some superb passes by Mzwandile Zwane, Baggio Senwamadi and Thabang Selepe.
Ironically, Benoni High were beaten 3-2 in the other semi by their B side which consisted of U/17.The final was seen as a David vs Goliath game with Norkem favourites to win.
The final was a very tactical game with both sides not giving any space away. However, Norkem started to find their passing game and started creating chances. Allen Sono scored the winner in the first half from a superb passage off individual play from Zwane.
The hard working trio of Phumlani Kgosana, Muzi Mdluli and Moeketsi Mohlala in midfield insured that the creative players had plenty of time and space to show their talent over the three days.
“The team showed its spirit and depth in taking this tough tournament again in 2014,” Gifford said.
In addition to the main trophy, Allen Sono was awarded top goal scorer and the coaching staff of Gifford, Junior Mwape and Mvuyise Vikwav were named coaches of the tournament.
Norkem’s U15 boys walked away with top honours at this year’s St Davids Inanda U/15 Football Tournament. The team went through the competition not conceding a single goal.
In their group stages they beat St Johns College 2-0, St Davids 1-0 and Uplands College 4-0. In the quarter finals they beat Waterstone College 1-0 in a tough encounter and moved into the semi finals against Jeppe Boys, where they again showed their class winning 1-0.
In the finals they faced King Edward who had swept all of their competition aside. The youngsters dominated the midfield and with the best defence and goalkeeper on show they slowly strangled the KES side.
The ball was played up to Tume Hlatshwayo who drove it into the net for a 1-0 win.
This team of youngsters added this trophy to the Brebner High Trophy they won in April and the Ekurhuleni U/15 Schools Cup.
“Some of the boys will represent the first team later this year and it bodes well for future football at the Norkem nursery,” Gifford said.
