Despite valiant effort Ma-Africa falls to Gomtown Boyz in Bambisana Cup penalty shootout
Despite limited preparation, Ma-Africa FC held Gomtown Boyz to a 1-1 draw before bowing out 4-1 on penalties in the Bambisana Cup at Alex Safe Hub.
Ma-Africa FC delivered a stellar performance in their opening fixture of the year, holding one of Alexandra’s toughest sides, Gomtown Boyz, to a 1–1 draw, before losing 4–1 in a penalty shootout during the Bambisana Cup clash at the Alex Safe Hub on Saturday.
Coach Rendani Mukheli praised his team’s resilience, especially given their limited preparation time after the festive season.
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His side started strong, with Thapelo Mofokeng opening the scoring to give Ma-Africa an early lead.
However, Gomtown Boyz equalised soon after, converting a penalty that shifted the momentum of the match. “That penalty cost us a lot. I bet, had it not been for that penalty, we would have won that game 1–0, but so far, a game is a game of opportunities. If you do not convert the opportunities, then the opponent is going to come and finish you, so we have to learn from our mistakes.”
Despite the setback, Ma-Africa held firm throughout the remainder of the match, showing determination against a side known for its strength.
Mukheli admitted that, heading into the fixture, he was not confident about the outcome, particularly since his squad had only resumed training on January 6. Attendance at training sessions was initially low, with numbers only improving slightly by Thursday, leaving the coach doubtful about their readiness. “Their performance was amazing.
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It shows that they want to play and to win, but unfortunately, we did not make it. Gomtown won by penalties, but it was a nice game and a good show that the boys are willing to play.”
Mukheli emphasised that the team’s ability to compete for 90 minutes against a seasoned opponent was proof of their grit and determination.
“I do believe in the boys. We kept on fighting even though Gomtown is a strong team. We managed to compete with them for 90 minutes, up to the penalty shootouts. I am still giving a hand of applause to the guys.”
The coach said that going forward, they just need to address some minor issues.
“We just need to brush here and there. We are going back to the drawing board to fix all our mistakes.”
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