Victory for Brakpan Spurs FC youngsters
The win impressed many because the players have not yet practised as a team this year.
Brakpan Spurs’ U15 side made a spectacular start to the 2024 season. The youngsters won a pre-season football tournament hosted by Benoni Northerns on Sunday.
Spurs started the day with intent when they won their first match against Boksburg 2-0. Their next group stage match saw Kempton Park hold them to a goalless draw.
The youngsters from Brakpan then hit a speed bump when they lost 1-0 to The Football Institute (TFI) after missing a chance to score from the penalty spot.
Then they took on the tournament hosts, who they beat 1-0 to get back to winning ways. The last group match was against Alberton, who Spurs beat 1-0 to proceed to the final after topping their group at the tournament.
The final saw the team from Brakpan take on Edenvale. Goals by Sechaba Nzima and Sifiso Skhosana gave Spurs a 2-0 win to take the trophy.
Club founder Jabulani Munene could not hide his satisfaction with how things went.
“We were happy with the amount of goals we scored, especially when you consider that each game was only 20 minutes long,” he said.
“I’m sure we can score a lot more if we play the required 70 minutes (U15 matches in the Eastern Local Football Association league play over 70 minutes).”
Munene is looking forward to the league action starting on April 7. This victory impressed many because the Spurs players have not yet practised as a team this year.
With the club still trying to secure training grounds, the players worked at different places. Some had to prepare in Tsakani, while others trained at various sites in Brakpan.
“We hope we can use the old Brakpan Bowling Club. The grounds there don’t look great at the moment. However, I have reached out to the organisation Clean Brakpan, and hope we can work together to fix the place,” said Munene.
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Spurs also need to get permission from the municipality to use the premises.
“We are going to approach the council through Clean Brakpan. It might be easier getting through to council with the organisation than if I go there myself,” the founder told the Brakpan Herald.
“We will clean the place and bring in soccer goals once we are granted permission by the council.”
Munene is pleased with the support the team received on Sunday.
“It was great to see so many parents come out to support the boys,” he said.
“Normally it’s just the coach and myself at the games but this time a lot of parents came to support.”
The Spurs’ founder rates the victory highly.
“It’s important for the club. Most of the players are still eligible to play at U13 level,” he said.
“We only have four players who are U15.”
