Midrand’s Total Football Excellence triumph in Soweto

Academy owner Theodora Crozét says despite the challenges they came across, they fought to the end and the persistence paid off.

November 5, 2022

Sphiwe Masilela 1 minute read

U17 Total Football Excellence's Welile Mweli lifts the trophy high while his teammates and coaches join him in celebration.

Midrand-based Total Football Excellence U17 team won the Soweto Academy League Cup following a 2–0 win over Randburg Football Club.
Soweto’s Nike football training centre played host to the match on October 29.
Excellence striker Munashe Magumbu scored a brace in the second half to ensure that his team won its maiden Soweto Academy League Cup.
The cup is played by all teams participating in the Soweto Academy League which is administered by the Soweto Local Football Association.

Total Football Excellence players and coaches show off their medals and cup they won in Soweto.

Excellence coach Isaac ‘Iceman’ Mabotsa said they were happy with the win considering that this was their first season in the league.
He added it was not an easy feat as they had played against good teams before they reached the final.
“I am happy for the boys and I believe they did very well and applied our game plan well. I think all the players worked hard in the game and playing against Randburg Football Club, who are the champions of the league, was not going to be easy,” said Mabotsa.

Excellence U17 coach Isaac ‘Iceman’ Mabotsa, U13 coach Gabriel ‘Ninja’ Mofokeng and owner Theodora Crozét.

Excellence owner Theodora Crozét said the boys and the coaches in the entire club had worked hard this season. “Our players and coaches exceeded all expectations. It is a proud moment as the team because we worked so hard this year, pushing through challenges with injuries etc. but they fought to the end and it all paid off well,” said Crozét.

A jubilant U17 Total Football Excellence team celebrates their Soweto Academy League triumph.

She said their main objective was to ensure the development of their players. “Secondly, to compete at a higher level while learning, and in the end, the reward was the trophy. Words cannot explain the excitement, satisfaction and enjoyment it has brought to the players, the coach, the parents, and the entire [Excellence] academy.
“As a coaching team, we work hard and strive hard to develop well-rounded players on and off the field. The players know how hard they worked and all the time and passion they put into the sport they love so much.”

Crozét concluded that the trophy was the players’ reward to enjoy.

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