The provincial u.21 South African Breweries (SAB) team beat Gauteng 3-2 to during their opening match of the South African Football Association (Safa) SAB Championships at the Oscar Mpetha Stadium on Sunday.
Exciting midfielder, Phuti Motebejane, afterwards also named Man of the Match, scored the opening goal and created two scoring opportunities which were converted by Hlulani Mandlazi and Sesupo Mahapa in the second half of the match.
Thulani Sindane and Siyanda Mthenjwa scored the consolation goals for Gauteng.
Head Coach, Jabulani Muhlaba said he was satisfied with the team’s performance in their first match of the championship. “The victory over Gauteng will definitely give us a major boost,” Muhlaba said adding that the Gauteng team is organised and always a difficult opponent.
Most of soccer teams from the Province won so many championships this year and I think it is our turn,” Mahlaba said.
Speaking at the opening day of the Championship on Sunday, Ntombo Kholwa, Socio Economic Development Specialist at SAB said it was just a taste of what was yet to come for the rest of this week.
“We have had a great opening to the tournament and we believe we are yet to see the best of what the teams have to offer. Day one of the competition got off to a great start and we urge the community of Turfloop to come out in numbers throughout the week as we celebrate the best of the SAB League,” Kholwa said.
Story & Photos: Herbert Rachuene
The provincial SAB u.21 team photographed before their match against Gauteng. In front are Philemon Mahapa (Trouble Makers Football Club, Waterberg), Maanda Mulalo (Limpopo Sports School of Excellence, Capricorn), Sello Baloyi (Trouble Makers), Frank Motebejane (The Rock Football Club, Mopani) and Koketso Tselapedi ( Quatrtho Football Club, Waterberg). Malose Maluleka, (Provincial Chairperson of South African Football Association), Junior Ramusi (Director of Sport Development at the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture), Martin Malefo (Moria Sweepers Football Club, Capricorn), Kenneth Nthutheni (United Artist Football Club, Vhembe), Ethe Khaukanani (Madridtas Football Club, Vhembe), Robert Baloyi (United Artist Football Club, Vhembe), Johannes Mphekgoane (Moria Sweepers), Stanley Mahase (United Artist) and Abel Rakoma (President of South African Football Association Capricorn Region).
