After two straight weeks of emphatic victories, the Alex Royal Tigers narrowly beat Gauteng FC 1–0 in their Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association Promotional League fixture on February 14.

Despite securing maximum points, coach Banele Sangcozi felt his side should have converted more chances. He noted that in the first half alone, the Tigers created about five opportunities, but were unable to finish them. Coming off back-to-back wins of 6–0 against Laz FC and 11–1 against Happy Fighters FC, part of an impressive tally of 48 goals in ten games, the expectation was for another high-scoring performance, but this time, the boys just could not find the net.

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Reflecting on the game, compared to their previous fixtures, Sangcozi said the difference is that this time they did not score as much. “If I had to look at the opportunities that we created, I would have to say that the difference is that we did not score. In the second half, we had another four chances, in addition to five chances in the first half. It could have been nine [goals].’

He added that if those nine chances had been converted, along with the lone goal they did score, the Tigers could have walked away with 10 goals. “Today, the goal did not want to accept us. That is why we ended where we were. So, it is something we must go back and fix.”

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Sangcozi emphasised the need for his players to be more clinical, a principle he says he consistently preaches. He said he always tells the boys to do the right things the simple way. Furthermore, he pointed out that his striker was playing his second game of the day, and faced a tough Gauteng FC defender. “He was playing against a good, solid defender. So, I take the fact that we could not score more, I take the fact that we missed on our own, and could have done things better.”

Still, he celebrated the last-minute strike from Ndamlelo Sikhwari, a goal he said he had predicted moments earlier. “I think it was on the 70th minute or so. I said: ‘Gents, we are going to score on the last minute, you must just watch out’.”

Sangcozi said that his team’s hunger in the final stretch showed their determination, and they eventually won because the gods of football usually favour those that are hungry. Looking ahead, he revealed the team’s ambitious target of finishing the season with at least 150 goals.

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