Castle Lager team impresses as it thumps NFD side
JOBURG - The Castle Lager Football Academy coaches, Neil Tovey and Phil Masinga expressed their satisfaction at the quality of football displayed by the Castle Academy SuperStars in their first practice match.
Castle Lager Football Academy coaches, Neil Tovey and Phil Masinga expressed their satisfaction at the quality of football displayed by the Castle Academy SuperStars in their first practice match.
The SuperStars thumped National First Division (NFD) side Highlands Park 5-2 at the Balfour Alexandra Football Club grounds. The goals were scored by University of Free State striker Dylan O’Brian, Eleven Experience striker Bongumusa Mabuza of Mpumalanga, Dawny Makgatho of Bafullo United in Limpopo, Tshepo Mokhabi of Free State side Thabang Youngsters and Christoffer Ballie of Northern Cape’s Celtic United.
“This is the first time since we started the campaign two years ago that we’re celebrating a win. This shows how the project has grown as the players know they have to give their best performance, and they come prepared when they are selected,” said Tovey.
The players had only two days to prepare for the match as the squad was only trimmed from 45 players to 23 on 18 January. “This shows the commitment in the crop of players we have this season. We only had two practice sessions and we managed to beat an NFD side by a great margin,” Tovey added.
The SuperStars visit Chloorkop to take on Mamelodi Sundowns on 24 January, and Masinga believes the team can match the defending Absa Premiership champions on the field. “The quality of players we have this year is great, and this showed in the match we played against Highlands Park,” said Masinga.
“I believe they will still surprise the teams we will be playing against. For us, it’s all about them competing, they have to believe in themselves and for them knowing that they will be playing Sundowns should be motivation on its own. They just have to respect them, but not fear them and play football.”
Most of the matches will be attended by scouts from the NFD and the Premier Soccer League teams who will be hoping to spot some raw talent from SuperStars to beef up their squads.
Details: Errol Madlala 082 921 7434 or Errol.Madlala@za.sabmiller.com
