Malandela are still the Mighty Heroes
JOBURG - Malandela Mighty Heroes coach Vincent Rammoni vows that his two teams in the U13 and U17 divisions will go all the way to defend their Map Games titles.
Malandela Mighty Heroes started the defence of their titles of the Maimane Alfred Phiri (Map) Games in both the U13 and U17 divisions on a positive note as the two teams won their opening matches of the last 16 of the tournament.
The U13s won their match 1–0 against Alex Junior City in a game played at the No 3 Square Grounds on 4 June, while their U17 counterparts beat Gauteng FC 3–2 at the Alexandra Stadium on 5 June.
Both teams have advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament and their talented coach, Vincent Rammoni was so confident of his boys, especially the U17s, that he predicted they would defend their crown.
“The whole purpose is to defend our title, and with the squad of the previous tournament still intact with the exception of three players that have graduated to the senior team [U20], I don’t see how we cannot achieve that feat,” said a confident Rammoni.
“We’re already in the quarterfinals and all we have to do is work hard at training and give it our all and the results will follow. It’s not that we’re the only team with talented players but I think what matters most is the character of the boys.”
Mighty Heroes is the only professionally run club in Alexandra since sponsor, Simon Dlamini of Isando-based Malandela Industrial Engineers came on board in 2014.
Dlamini, an Alex-born resident who graduated from Wits University, immediately introduced professionalism to the way the team was run, with camps before major games and tournaments, just like the professional clubs in the Premier Soccer League.
“I want the boys to get used to the conditions and the professionalism in the sport of football so that by the time they turn professional, this will not be a new ball game to them,” Dlamini had said at the announcement of the sponsorship deal in 2014.
“Once we can exhibit that professionalism, everything else, including the character of the boys and their approach to the game will change and results will start trickling in.”
Rammoni said his teams had benefited from this new approach and this would stand them in good stead for the defence of their titles. “Believe it or not, we’re going to go all the way to defend this trophy and make history as the first Alex club to do so.”
