Local teams strive for improvement
Velocity coach explained that he is happy with the players response and how they executed his game plan despite the results.
Velocity Football Academy and Evo Football Club tested each other’s strengths and weaknesses before the start of the 2024 season.
Velocity invited Evo for a friendly yet very competitive fixtures of the U14s, U16s, and U18s at Ferndale High School.
The U18’s game began with high intensity, with both teams aiming to keep and rotate the ball. Both teams began the game with players they knew would be registered for the upcoming season. The visitors had the upper hand in the first 25 minutes, creating clear-cut opportunities.
Patrick Khumalo puts Evo on a much-deserved lead early in the first half. They used his strength, skills, and speed very well to trouble the home side’s defence. Khumalo struck again to give his team a two-goal advantage.
The visitors took the foot off the pedal in the last 15 minutes of the first half, Velocity began winning the ball easily and attacking more from the right-hand side. Musa Chimenya was the thorn in Evo’s defence causing havoc down the right wing. The desperate defending from the visitors cost them their advantage as Chimenyah’s long range free-kick found the back of the net to make it 2—1 before halftime.
Gary Roodt, Evo’s coach explained that they dominated the first half, but they lost energy towards the end and were too casual on the ball.
“Once we were two up, we gave them time on the ball, and we made costly mistakes. We have a big squad at the moment and we still looking to cut down players before the start of the season. A lot of the boys are trialists so we wanted to give them minutes.”
The second half started a bit slower as both teams introduced new players and trialists. The drama did not end as the home side won possession in the opponent’s half and Antonie Bhumba easily passed through defenders and equalised for Velocity (2—2).
Mahlori Malele broke and stole the spotlight with a late win for Evo 3—2 that broke the home side’s hearts.
Velocity coach Lukhanyo Stemele complimented his boys for a good fight and explained that they are still in a build-up phase.
“I feel we are on the right track as a team based on the fact that they can play my style. In this game, I was looking for basic things like movement, on and off the ball, and right combinations and I am happy with what I have.”
In other divisions, Velocity lost both games – the U14, 2—1 and U16s, 3—1.
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