Masters gives a footballing lesson to the youngsters
The goal fuelled Bump Jive as they attacked in numbers but time was running out for them
MAABOCHA – A goal eight minutes from full-time ensured that Maabocha Masters were crowned the champions of the community weekly tournament, played at the Sehloi sport grounds on Sunday afternoon.
They defeated their fierce rivals Bump Jive FC 1-0 in a tightly contested game watched by hundreds of spectators. The Masters’s goal was converted by Lewe Branco Makofane after a corner from midfielder Morris Makofane.
Bump Jive dominated the early proceedings of the match with their trademark long balls but the team in red were unable to convert the numerous chances they created. The Masters’s defence was resolute, marshalled by experienced centre backs Lucas Mashego and Ishmael Makofane.
The first real chance of the match fell to Bump Jive’s speedy winger Viyane Khumalo; he unleashed a powerful shot which was acrobatically punched by Masters’s goalie Tahlego Maphanga. The shot stopper kept his team in the match by producing magnificent saves.
In the second half, the Masters regrouped with their strikers Boyky Lesese and Ben Matshaba resorting to long-range shooting, but that did not trouble Bump Jive goal minder Kabelo Mashego.
In the 60th minute, Bump Jive thought they have scored, only for their goal to be ruled for an offside. Tempers flared as the referee seemed to be losing the control of the match; career threatening tackles were also seen deep in the second half.
Against the run of play, the Masters got a corner kick which was coolly headed in by marksman Branco Makofane to give his team a 1-0 lead.
The goal fuelled Bump Jive as they attacked in numbers, but time was not on their side. In added time, Vincent Sani did well with his first touch to dribble past Lucas Mashego before firing a tame shot which was palmed away by man of the match candidate Tahlego Maphanga. That was the last chance for the team in red..
Coach Sello Matshaba of Masters says his team did well by absorbing Bump Jive’s first half pressure. “We knew they will attack us in the first stanza and chose to sit back and defend, capitalising on counter-attacks and set plays. That paid off as our goal came from a corner kick,” said the coach.
The first matches played on the day saw Bump Jive beating Nkoro FC 5-4 on penalties, after sudden death, the teams drew 0-0 under normal play.
United FC lost to the Masters 3-4, also on penalties after the teams failed to score in 90 minutes of play. The Masters took home a winning prize of R4000.
