Even after Silver Stars FC conceded 20 goals in their clash against Happy Fighters, coach Johannes ‘Lolo’ Modiba remained upbeat about his team’s performance. He explained that he had been forced to field younger players, as his U15 squad was unavailable for the fixture. The size and strength difference between his U13 boys and their opponents left them at a clear disadvantage.

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Yet, Modiba chose to focus on his players’ growth rather than the 0-20 loss to Happy Fighters.

“My U13 boys showed resilience against older and stronger players. Without the size difference, they would have had a much greater fighting chance,” he said. Despite the heavy defeat, several Silver Stars players stood tall. Neo Ndumela, small in stature but fearless at the back, proved a constant stumbling block for Happy Fighters. Time and again, he pressed forward to disrupt attacks, ensuring the goals weren’t handed over on a silver platter.

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Meanwhile, Happy Fighters’ coach Kamogelo ‘Zizwo’ Sefolo revealed that his side had entered the game chasing numbers. With 27 goals already scored in three matches, they aimed to push their tally to 30.

“We were chasing goal difference. And we wanted to make sure that we don’t undermine any team, that we go all out in every match,” Sefolo explained.
For Silver Stars, the scoreboard may have told one story, but Modiba insisted the real victory lay in the lessons learned and the resilience shown by his young charges.

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