A close final of the Pro Series Indoor Gauteng Series 24 league saw newcomers Mzansi City U18 boys emerge victorious against the Goats on 14 March at Dainfern College.
The game took place following a short break from matches due to the inaugural Joburg Hockey League taking place. The Goats beat Beaulieu Hockey Academy Green 2–0 in a shoot-out which earned them a spot in the final.
In the final, after a defensive first 10 minutes, Alex Bone of the Goats opened the scoring but things were quickly levelled when Mzansi City’s Miguel de Jesus scored. And it was De Jesus again who put Mzansi City in the lead from a penalty corner but Bone would not be denied and drew his team level from a penalty corner minutes later. With less than five minutes left in the match, the Goats once again took the lead and it seemed like the writing was on the wall for Mzansi City.
24 League.
Photos: Khomotso Makgabutlane
However, with the last penalty corner of the game, De Jesus bagged his hat-trick and the match ended in a stalemate and took it to a shoot-out. Mzansi City keeper Ryan Kapanda was able to keep a clean sheet in the shoot-out while City’s strike force had no problem in scoring all three goals to win the final 3–0. Coach of the winning side, Jonathan Ting Chong said they were a new club and this was Mzansi City’s first outing as a team.
Despite this, he said the boys played their hearts out in a tough final. “Beaulieu who we knocked out this morning made us get a little bit over our heads, thinking it would be a little easier,” he said. “Going down 1–0, in the beginning, is something you don’t want to see but I’m super proud of how they played. They went hard to the last minute. I truly see big things for the team and the players,” he concluded.
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