Controversial end to Youth Day match in Giyani
Local U17 soccer teams from the Giyani SAFA Youth Premier League Development battled it out for a trophy and medals in a tournament over the weekend at Gimbo FC’s home ground in Giyani Section-A.
According to Gezani Mashaba, the head of Youth Football Development at the Greater Giyani Local Football Association (GGLFA), the tournament is in celebration of Youth Day and aims to keep the youth off the streets. “We know that the U17 boys are the troublemakers because it is the age they start to engage in alcohol, drugs, and other destructive behaviour; keeping them here during the holiday is the best way of avoiding all of that,” he said.
The last remaining two teams to grace the stage after tough knockouts throughout the day were Xikukwani Academy FC against Gimbo FC. This was a tough match since both teams were so good at the game that it took the entire first half before any team was able to score a goal. However, Xikukwani Academy finally managed to sneak a goal into the net just a few minutes into the second half and took the lead.
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Eight minutes before the final whistle, Gimbo FC was also given a penalty and scored an equalising goal, which Xikukwani Academy vehemently denied happened. They walked off the field in protest, which led to the game being halted. Fortunately, SAFA officials and senior referees were able to resolve the matter, and the goal was disqualified. Gimbo FC was given the option to return to the field to finish the remaining minutes or to forfeit the game.
The team chose to forfeit the game to Xikukwani Academy FC. The winning team received a trophy and gold medals, the losing team walked away with silver medals. There was also a prize for the player of the tournament which went to one of Gimbo FC’s strikers. The prize for the coach of the tournament was withheld due to the controversial ending of the match.
