Randburg FC fall short to Tuks on the Engen Knockout game
Randburg coach Paul Habib said they are now focusing on the Gauteng Development League matches, but his boys learnt a lot and they will come back stronger next year
A tough second half saw the Randburg Football Club U18 squander their 2–0 lead against the University of Pretoria (Tuks) at Marks Park Sports Club and bowed out of the Johannesburg Engen Knockout Challenge.
The thrilling quarter-final encounter saw Randburg taking a lead in the first half as their forward Keenan Schofield smashed one at the roof of the net. The boys were not done as they applied more pressure to the struggling Tuks defence. The high press proved to be working as they were awarded a penalty at the stroke of halftime and defender Kyle Allen made no mistake giving his side a 2–0 lead.
Tuks team came back a different-looking side as their players were all hyped up screaming ‘believe, believe, believe’ to one another. They forced the Randburg team to play a different game as they kept them in their half and forced them to defend deep. It was looking scrappy for Randburg FC and the Tuks got one to make 2–1.
Randburg goalkeeper Colby Sinclair was the busiest. He produced a few game-saving tricks but Tuks’ persistence paid off as they grabbed an equaliser that took the game to a penalty shootout. It was the Tuks goalkeeper who came up on top and saved two penalties (4–2) and booked his team a place in the semi-finals.
Randburg coach Paul Habib said that they still can’t believe that they lost the game. “When we look back now, I think it came down to a bit of immaturity. We took a very young squad – some of them will be back in the tournament for the next three years coming. When we got to the second half that extra physicality and maturity from the Tuks got them over the line.”
Habib added that he is proud of the boys for the performances they showed throughout the tournament and they will prepare even better for next year’s tournament.
Randburg started well in the group stages, where they were grouped alongside Mamelodi Sundowns, Wits Juniors, and RESA. They finished second in the group with six points after beating Wits 2–1, losing 1–0 to Mamelodi Sundowns, and defeating RESA 3–1.
Hundreds of spectators turned out to support their favourite teams throughout the three-day competition hosted at Marks Park Sports Club. There were 16 teams made up of both men and women. The University of Johannesburg won the ladies title, while Mamelodi Sundowns won the men’s championship.
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