Forek’s U17 league games showcase raw talent of Mpumalanga teams

Week 14 of the Forek U17 Development League saw teams exchanging blows as they showcased great soccer skills, much to the delight of supporters and sponsors alike.

This, according to the league’s co-ordinator, David Nkosi, is a sign that the team is rapidly growing and achieving the desired results of advancing in this beautiful game.

This season’s league formation features two streams, Mbelanko and White-Hazy, to allow more teams to be part of this professionally run developmental league in Mpumalanga.

Each stream is made up of 12 teams, and this past weekend saw the teams in the Mbelanko stream taking one another on to dethrone the Nkomazi-based Sibange Young Bucks, who are the defending champions and currently sited at the summit with 29 points.
Maintaining their position from week 13, Ehlanzeni United Academy took on their nemesis, Harmony Sports Academy from Nkomazi, at the Valencia Sports Centre on Saturday July 13. The teams clashed in a two-all draw.

One of the hot favourites, Ehlanzeni United Academy, have not really come to the party yet as they have only managed to win six of their 14 games. They have also drawn three and lost five. The team collected 21 points from their 14 games, leaving them sixth on the table.

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However, their coach, December Fakude, believes that his boys have shown great development since the start of the league. “Their discipline has improved drastically and they are learning to apply instructions to improve their skills on the field. We are not far from the number one spot, but the aim is to not allow our fellow teams to catch up to us. We are definitely improving and I am sure we will be a better team in the next games.”

Harmony Sports Academy, on the other hand, have won four of their 12 games so far, drew five and lost three. Coach Bongumusa Mamba said their focus now is to get closer to the top three. “We played to a draw, but that is much better than a loss. I love how far we have come since the campaign started, because over seven weeks, the team has been slowly climbing up the ladder reaching for our dreams. There is a lot of room for improvement on everyone’s side in order to win this league,” he said.

In the White-Hazy stream, the favourites, East High Academy, currently sit at the top of the table with 29 points, followed by Tekatako Academy in second and Sinani United Football Club in third place.

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Nkosi stressed that the teams have shown great improvement compared with this time last season. “All teams have reached the second round of the league and we are estimating to crown the winner before the boys write their final school exams. Judging by the development of the teams, 10 of them have adjusted quite well,” he said.