Emotions high as Sporo takes Super 8 Cup
“We feel the victory is the first of many and has been a long time coming because the team has been working consistently,” explains the coach.
KwaThema – Underdogs Sporo thrashed title favourites City Royals 5 – 1 last Sunday during the final of the Super 8 Cup hosted by the Tamaya Football League.
The game started slow with Sporo scoring the first goal towards the end of the first half.
City Royals replied with an equaliser early in the second half. A hailstorm of goals from Sporo followed shortly after the team regrouped.
Coach of Sporo, George Ngoma says: “When they equalised, I told my players we need to change our strategy and to start attacking.
“We had to strengthen our left back because that it is where they were attacking, but also needed our strikers to run forward because we knew they could not match our pace”.
Ngoma says the victory does not come as a surprise as his team have been working hard since last year to improve their game.
“We feel the victory is the first of many and has been a long time coming because the team has been working consistently,” explains the coach.
The match was emotional with frustrated players from City Royals exchanging harsh words with match officials and other players.
On this, Ngoma says: “Officials of City Royals and one of the players were insulting my players.
“The emotions of the game should not lead to disrespect and we will be laying a formal complaint with the league.”
City Royals coach Tebogo Matsose says: “It is always the case that emotions get high in football matches.
“The player was being tackled roughly and took it personally, but we dealt with it and it has passed.”
The coach said he was not aware of exchanges between his officials and Sporo and have talked about discipline on the field during training.
“I always tell my players to be mindful of their emotions because we are cup specialists and the underdogs always try to demoralise us and take advantage of our emotions,” he explains.
Tsamaya Football League chairman Jacob Smith says: “Attitudes of players are being dealt with through disciplinary hearings because we do not want problems with that when the league officially starts.”
“Everything will be dealt with according to the constitution,” he concludes.
