Kempton Park FC had a season like never before

THE final game of a very long super league season was played between Kempton Park and Robertsham on Saturday and what a game it was.

After securing their SAB Castle League play-off place with their victory at Alberton on Tuesday night last week, Kempton was vying for second place in the league and the highest position ever achieved by a Kempton Park side in any incarnation of the top local amateur leagues.

Robertsham were also flying high with five wins and a draw in the previous six games and a victory would give them the runner-up spot behind Randburg who had won the League with a comfortable 4-0 win over Zwide from Kathlehong on Tuesday last week.

Kempton roared into Robertsham from minute one. They took the lead in under five minutes when wide man Mbuso Thango crossed a ball that was half cleared to Didi Kasalu just outside the box who, seeing no-one closing him down, unleashed a left-footed piledriver that any goalkeeper in the world would have had trouble saving, the ball ripping into the right-hand corner of the net.

Kempton would not be denied and with the centre back pairing of Zuks Bahlakazi and Byron Jarman easily handling any threat Robertsham had to offer and a combination of Grant Terrey and Nathi Shange snuffing out Robertsham’s main threat down their right, Dean Workman was having a fairly easy time of it.

Dion Homela was putting in a real shift in the centre of the park and he seemed to break up almost all of Robertsham’s midfield play. Midway through the half, the lead was doubled.

Stand in right back Ociano Pretorius fired a pinpoint pass to Thango who knocked it wide down the line to Ditshego. He kept the ball alive before pulling it back from the byline for Thango to blast home, stinging the keepers’ fingertips.

Robertsham had plenty about them and in the last 10 minutes put Kempton under real pressure, A couple of shots were blasted high and wide with a last-ditch clearance from Bahlakazi saving the day.

Jarman remained imperious in the air and didn’t miss a header all day. On the stroke of half-time, Dean Workman produced a brilliant save, palming the ball over when it seemed destined for the top corner.

Early in the second half, Robertsham striker and former Kempton player Widson Mwandira was put through on goal but his first touch was not the best and Workman flew off his line to smother the ball and eliminate a great opportunity to score.

Robertsham kept the heat on, bombarding the Kempton goal but rarely looking threatening. Two free kicks were whacked over the bar and Bahlakazi won a vital header to clear the Kempton lines.

Kempton weathered the storm and in the final ten minutes came into their own.

Substitute Thabani Masilela failed to control with only the keeper to beat and the same player saw a shot well saved low to the left. Rodwell Mwandira came on as a sub for the tireless Skillo Ditshego and did superbly holding up the ball before pinging it out to the Robertsham right, which had been left very exposed due to them pushing up so far. A perfect pass over to the right saw Masilela take the ball in his stride before picking his spot and flashing the ball past the keeper.

Minutes later the whistle blew and the celebrations began. A 3-0 victory over a very competent Robertsham team could not have been dreamed of before kickoff. A total of 14 wins and two draws in the last 16 games is an unbelievable run and the reward of a Castle League play-off place fair reward for all of their efforts.

Man of the match was Nathi Shange.

The second team, who were weakened by players having to represent the first side, went down 1-3 in a game that could have been won.

Kempton took the lead when Rudolph Komape side-footed Given Maredi’s cross in at the back post and were given further opportunity to extend it when they were awarded a penalty for handball.

Hlubi Mehlomakhulu stepped up to take it but the keeper pulled off a fine save. Robertsham then had a player sent off and it seemed Kempton would win easily.

The Robertsham keeper saved well again and when Maredi struck the crossbar from close range it seemed that it was just a matter of time before they scored once more.

Robertsham tore into Kempton and dominated the second half, scoring three goals in the process. The game was lost, Robertsham Reserves came second in the League and Kempton ended up a creditable sixth.

It was a season like never before and only being three points behind four-in-a-row champions Randburg at the end of it all makes one think what might have been a better start to the season. Three points from the first 24 on offer and 44 from the next 48. A tremendous year for Kempton Park Football Club, never to be forgotten.

The work put in by the management and coaching team of Trevor Botha, Graeme Rutherford, Andile Mehlomakhulu and Warren Gardner cannot be underestimated. Without their commitment and skills, the team would never have reached the heights it did.