First 11 coach commends team after sharing spoils with U13 log leaders
First 11 FC held one of the U13 division's best to a scoreless draw at Altrec despite training without basic equipment.
First 11 FC frustrated early pace-setters Norwood Young Stars FC in a hard-fought scoreless draw on Saturday.
The two sides met at Altrec Sports Complex in an Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association (ANLFA) U13 fixture.
First 11 FC coach Johannes Sibanda hailed his players’ effort in earning a share of the spoils against one of the division’s frontrunners, who currently sit on top of the log with 29 points.
Read more: Alex Black Poison U15 secures a 14-1 win against Amavulavala
Sibanda said he went into the match well aware of the scale of the task and made a point of preparing his players mentally for a tough afternoon.
“It was a difficult game. I had to tell my players to fight hard because we are not playing against the last team on the log. We must give our best performance in whatever we do,” he said.
Sibanda, whose team is currently ninth on the log, noted the result meant more than a point on the log as it was a reminder of how far his squad can go despite working with far less than most of their rivals.
“It was enough for me because, honestly, as a team, we are facing a lot of challenges. We don’t have enough equipment, and we face well-resourced teams,” he said.
Also read: Mhlaba FC remains optimistic even after 2-1 loss to Opopo FC
The coach explained that shortages of basics such as balls and training cones have made it difficult to run effective sessions, and it limits how much his squad can work on before matches.
“Their draw made me happy, because we faced a team that was properly trained, but we still managed to compete at their level,” Sibanda said.
The result comes as a welcome boost for the club, a week after First 11’s U15 side went down 1-4 to Super Strikers FC. U15 coach Kaizer Zuke pointed to challenges around parental support and player punctuality as contributing factors in that defeat.
Set against that backdrop, Saturday’s stalemate served as proof of what the U13 side can produce even while working with limited resources.
Sibanda believes that with the right tools at their disposal, his young squad has what it takes to go toe-to-toe with the league’s best on a more regular basis.
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates!
