Both teams were playing their eighth match since the league started in May and teams seem to be throwing in everything to avoid falling behind. Both teams fought hard to secure the points needed to boost their standing and hopefully win. The aim is to prepare young players for more competitive leagues through football development.

It serves as motivation for young players who dream of making it in football. Scorpions coach, Gezani Mashaba, was upbeat that his team did not lose despite playing an away game. “We wanted to win the match, but a draw is not bad when playing away from home. I also believe that if they had followed all that I had trained them to do during practice, the result would have been different,” he said.

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The coach of the Xikukwani Academy, Bongani Mbetse, was not impressed with the draw despite his team putting up an impressive show on the field. Mbetse believes his team lost the stamina to move forward when the Scorpions scored their second goal levelling the score at 2-2. “That equalising goal destroyed everything we had on the field. The boys felt discouraged because being in the lead made them believe they would win the game.

When that hope was shattered it became difficult for them to keep up with the pace,” he said. Xikukwani Academy is one of the toughest teams in the league. Before the Saturday match, the team was in third position while the Scorpions were trailing behind in fourth position. “We don’t want to be here just to make up numbers, we’re going to plan our next move and correct our mistakes,” he explained.