Tsakani – Uhuru Sporting FC went head-to-head with Elco Santos in a thrilling friendly game at the Malandela Ground on July 5.

The game was in preparation for the team’s participation in a local tournament to take place in Tsakani. Coach Charlie Mokoena of Elco Santos FC said the first half was not easy.

“We told the players to stay calm and relax because we knew it would be a challenging game.

“Our opponents made it difficult for us, but the team remained focused,” he said.

In the second half, Mokoena explained that they started well, but for about 20 to 30 minutes, they lost concentration.

“We relaxed too much after taking the lead, and that allowed the opposition to come back into the game.

“That is something we need to improve on. Overall, I am pleased with the performance. The players showed character and determination, even though there are areas we still need to work on.

“We will continue preparing the team and correcting the mistakes we identified,” he added.

The coach highlighted their biggest strength is the commitment and fighting spirit of the players.

“We will build on that as we continue with the tournament and the league season,” he said.

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The game ended 5-3 in favour of Uhuru. Uhuru coach Zwakele Madonsela said the first half started slowly and there were a few mistakes.

He mentioned that as a team, they identified the problems during the break and made the necessary changes.

“We replaced one of the full-backs, which helped strengthen our defence. In the second half, the team improved significantly. We were able to penetrate the opposition’s defence much quicker and scored two goals,” he cited.

He expressed gratitude towards his team’s performance, saying winning against teams of this calibre is never easy.

“One of the biggest adjustments we made was in defence. Both of our full-backs were playing too narrowly, so we changed one of them.

“That gave us better balance at the back and allowed us to attack with more confidence,” he said.

Madonsela explained that he trusts his players, and they responded well during the game. He highlighted that there are still areas that need to improve.

“Some of our regular defenders were unavailable today, so I believe the team will be even stronger when everyone is available. It was also the first time some of our wingers played today, including player number 21, and I was very impressed with his performance,” he added.

“He has earned more game time in the league. The standard of football in our development structures has improved tremendously, and it’s encouraging to see.”

Madonsela further cited friendly games like this one are important because they help young players develop and prepare them for higher levels of competition.