Freedom fighters set the pace

MABOCHA – Local soccer teams organised a three-team tournament on Sunday July 20. The matches took place at All-stars sport ground in Morulaneng.

The first one was that of the host team, All-stars against Freedom Fighters of Praktiseer. It was a dull affair in the first stanza, as neither team showed a hunger to win. In the second half, the game was revitalised when Piet Makofane of All-stars handled the ball in the penalty area, Kenny Mamadisha wasted no time and converted the penalty to give Freedom Fighters an edge.

The host team pushed hard for the equalising goal but failed to convert the half chances they created. Enoch Morokong sealed the game for the visitors when he scored from a set piece. All-stars goalkeeper Thapelo Mafane misjudged the shot before it slipped through his gloves and hit the back of the net.

All-stars fought hard but it was too little too late as the game ended 2-0 in favour of the visiting team. In the second match Hellenic locked horns with All-stars in a tightly contested derby. The match finished with a 3-1 win for All-Stars in penalties, the two teams drew 2-2 in the 90 minutes of play. Thapelo Mafane went from villain to hero as he saved two penalties in the shoot-out.

The final match was a replay of the first match as Freedom Fighters battled it out with the host team All-stars. The game was played with a blistering pace, but again the two teams were missing sitters. The game ended 0-0 and it was left to the dreaded penalties to see the winners.

Freedom Fighters were clinical in their spot kicks and emerged as the victors. They wrapped the game 7-6 in penalties.

Freedom Fighters’ mentor Bernard Mafane, said his team deserved the win, “We were a better team on the day, it’s a pity we were playing on a bad pitch, had the match taken place in Praktiseer we would have walloped them,” he said.

Mafane added that the tournament served as a practice match for their Castle league games.