The Benoni High School first team produced a spirited late fightback but was ultimately left frustrated after a 3-3 draw against Zimbabwe’s Lomagundi College on day two of the St Dunstan’s College Easter Sports Festival.

In a match that ebbed and flowed, Benoni found themselves on the back foot for large periods, despite initially taking control.

A brace from Dash Sahadeo and a crucial strike from captain Kgosi Molefe rescued the hosts after Lomagundi surged into a 3-1 lead, setting up a tense finish that saw the teams share the spoils.

Speaking after the match, Molefe did not shy away from a frank assessment of his side’s performance.

“Defensively, we allowed them too much space. We weren’t committing to tackles, and even from my side, I wasn’t tracking back enough,” he admitted.

“We were stagnant, not calling for the ball and hiding behind players. That’s how they got their goals.”

Benoni’s sluggish defensive work and lack of urgency were evident as Lomagundi capitalised, overturning an early deficit with clinical attacking play. Molefe also pointed to complacency as a key factor.

“After going 1-0 up, we became too confident and started getting lazy. There was also a lack of communication, and that cost us.”

Despite the disappointing display, Benoni showed resilience to claw their way back into contention, with Sahadeo’s finishing and Molefe’s leadership sparking a late revival.

Fatigue may also have played a role, with the team arriving at the festival on the back of a successful tournament in Limpopo, where they won all their matches.

Looking ahead, Molefe emphasised the need for improvement.

“We need to communicate more, stay disciplined and not get carried away. We know we can do better.”

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