KPFC super league side is at top of the log
Both teams laid on fantastic performances with no quarter asked or given.
Kempton Park Football Club (KPFC) took on current ILFA Super League champions Luso Africa in their own backyard of Hattingh Park on Saturday and not only walked away with a magnificent 2-1 victory, but also took top spot on the league table on their own.
Both teams laid on fantastic performances with no quarter asked or given. Games like these restore faith in the players who are out in the amateur leagues and show the kind of football that can be played when work and application are applied.
Goal chances were thin on the ground in the first half, where a midfield battle royal took place with tackles flying in, aerial battles being keenly contested and no dearth of ability being evidenced.
Kempton goal machine Zivai Verenga shot directly at the Luso goalkeeper when he should rather have set up Ociano Pretorius. Verenga fired high and wide. With KG Ramoghoase dominant in midfield and Michael Letsiro winning every challenge in the air, Luso were restricted to a few pot shots in the half with keeper Cameron Cosway rarely troubled.
The second half started with a bang with Kempton finally clearing after sustained Luso pressure. Nine minutes in, Kempton took the lead. Edmond Mohalwena charged the ball down from an erratic Luso clearance before bearing down on goal and poking the ball into the bottom left hand corner.
Luso struck back when Kempton failed to deal with a sharp cross from their left and the ball was superbly flashed home from the edge of the 18-yard box.
The decisive goal came on 78 minutes, when a high ball looped in by Ramoghoase skidded off the head of Luso centre back Ivan Bosic. It was latched onto by Verenga, who allowed the ball to bounce once before unleashing a pile driver the Luso netminder never saw fly past him.
Kempton took the points, but the challenges come week in and week out and another real test awaits on Saturday when second-placed Robertsham are hosted at the KPFC grounds.
The Kempton reserves recorded a draw against league leaders Luso Africa in what might be regarded as their best performance so far this season.
Kempton took the lead when a Skillo Ditshego cross was superbly volleyed in by Sihle Makhubela.
On the stroke of half time, Luso equalised when poor defending allowed them an easy finish. Midway through the second half, Kempton took the lead again when a great piece of skill allowed Ntokozo Mayisa to score. Luso levelled things very late on and were lucky to share the points.
The KPFC third team travelled to Benoni Northerns and was beaten 4-2 in the Easterns Division One League. Sandile Maisela scored both goals for Kempton.
The Easterns Division Three side secured a 4-1 victory over Luso Africa in their midweek fixture. Goals came from Darren Smith, Warren Gardner, Quenn Hartridge and Grant Ramsay.
Junior results: u-6 lost to BCC 1-7; u-7A lost to Highlands 1-2; u-7B drew with Sporting 2-2; u-8 beat Luso 10-0; u-9 beat Robertsham 3-2; u-10 beat Corinthians 8-2; u-11 drew with Highlands Park 3-3; u-12 drew with South Side Stars 2-2; u-13 lost to Benoni Northerns 5-1; u15A beat Springs OB 8-3 and u-17 drew with Rovers 2-2.
