Spectators entertained by relentless action

SOCCER lovers descended on the Swika la Motheo Sports Ground last Saturday to watch the first leg of the play-offs of the Kaizer Letsoalo Games (KLG) between Ramalema Cosmos and Manamela Naughty Boys.

The match ended in a 0-0 draw.

With the away-goal rule applicable in this contest, Ramalema Cosmos had the advantage as they didn’t concede a goal in their home-match in the first leg.

This situation would be a thorn in the flesh for Manamela Naughty Boys, as any draw in the second leg with goals will mean that Ramalema Cosmos win the prestigious championship crown.

The outcome of the play-offs must have deeply concerned the veteran striker for Naughty Boys, Jonas “Bebeto” Manamela, who saw a few of his attempts come to nothing last Saturday.

Despite the scoreless result, the spectators were highly entertained by the relentless action dished out by the two experienced sides.

At stake was the league prize, gold medals, a floating trophy and a place in the KLG premier division next season. The loser of this contest will join seven other teams that ended in the top four category in each of the two streams of the KLG soccer league to contest for various positions in the top eight bracket.

The overall champions plus seven top teams in the overall KLG log standings will also book themselves a place in the KLG Top 8 Soccer Challenge next year.

Manamela Naughty Boys and Ramalema Cosmos qualified for this coveted play-off contest by virtue of winning the green and yellow streams of the KLG soccer league which ended recently.

Manamela Naughty Boys won the green stream ahead of favourites such as Golden Aces, Real Madrid, Leswika Classic and Khopho All Stars and Royal Celtic.

Ramalema Cosmos beat the likes of Long Valley, Bayern Young Stars, Mapantsula, Lebaleng Young Stars and Mphoto to brag the rights to the yellow stream.

The manager of Naughty Boys, Sofaya Makwela said the team was looking at nothing else but victory at the Moruleng ground in Lephepane.

Frazer Letsoalo, spokesperson for Ramalema Cosmos said the team was going to make use of the away-goal advantage to take the title. “Our supporters are already excited about this, and we are going to outnumber the Manamela fans, probably four or five times,” he said.

Theussel Modiba, a soccer fanatic in the Tickeyline-Motlhatlareng area said it was the first time in the history of football in the area that he saw the Swika la Motheo sports facility as crowded as it was last Saturday.

“If this is the trend, then we are afraid the Moruleng ground at Lephepane will be intimidating for Ramalema Cosmos”, said Modiba.

“We know that Ramalema Cosmos will mobilise all their followers in the Rita, Tickeyline, Motlhatlareng and Makhubedung area to support them in this all-important encounter.”

There will be curtain-raising matches against an u/13 boys’ team and the Rasebalane United and Dub-Root open teams.

The management committee of KLG under the stewardship of Mokele Mogoboya and Bricks Nukeri, will be at the Moruleng ground in Lephepane to witness the proceedings.

They will also be handing the trophy over to the winners.

“We don’t expect any football follower in this region to miss out on this historical moment that will take place on Saturday,” Mogoboya said.