Midrand’s Excellence U19s excel as they clinch the championship
Curro Waterfall is expected to be abuzz with fans on November 13, most of whom are the parents of the players, as they will officially be handed their championship trophy.
With one game to spare in their U19 division, Total Football Excellence from Midrand, has clinched the Rand Central Local Football Association (RCLFA) championship.
The newly RCLFA champions-in-waiting will play their last game of the campaign against Florida Albion FC and will officially receive their trophy after the game. In the first round, the two teams played to a six-goal thriller as they drew 3–3, which makes this fixture produce fireworks and goals.
Kick-off is scheduled for 13:00 on November 13 at Curro Waterfall.
Mathematically, Excellence will be crowned champions and even if second-placed Etimar Foundation Football Development wins their last game, they will trail by four or eight points depending on the outcome.
Coach Kabelo Ngqinambi said the season was great but in the latter part of the campaign many of their players had academic obligations that they needed to fulfil. “Most of our players were in Grade 11 and 12, so their educational commitment came first but I am happy that the ones were had managed to finish up the job. But we reach a stage where we learned how to win important games, and I think we wrapped it up early,” said Ngqinambi.
In their last six games, Excellence scored 14 goals, which is an average of over two goals per game and only conceded eight.
After 23 games played, the academy won 18, drew two and lost three games.
He said he came into the season to develop the players and develop himself as well as a coach, but things change three months into the season.
“Five months down the line, we were still on top and pushing, and we start thinking of achieving something memorable, but to be honest I did not think about challenging for the title.”
Ngqinambi said that he hopes to inject more youth, especially from the U17s, for next season to help with continuity.
He concluded there was a need to bolster his attacking and midfield departments to have more depth next season.
Related article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/313238/owner-urge-players-to-enjoy-their-first-accolade
