Second disappointment for young team’s players

THE gods of soccer must have turned their faces away from Hwelereng Young Stars Academy on Saturday.

This u/15 development club from Hwelereng, outside Lebowakgomo, had victory written all over their game, but a penalty that went over the bar forced them to kiss the silverware goodbye.

The tournament was played at Noordelikes Stadium on Saturday and was sponsored by Sportsman’s Warehouse.

Young Stars Academy failed to capitalise on Limpopo Sports School of excellence’s horrendous penalty kicks, with their own equalising spot kick going over the bar.

This is for the second time that Young Stars Academy failed to lift the trophy in two years.

Last year their u/19 team was thrashed in the semi-finals, ironically by the same School of Excellence.

Head coach of Young Stars Academy, Isaac Maja, attributed this loss to bad luck. He said he was proud of his boys, but ending the year without any silverware was a course for concern.

“We prepared well for this tournament and my boys were up for it. We had a score to settle after failing to reach the finals with the u/19 team last year.

“To be honest, we should have lifted the trophy, but if luck is not on your side, you lose matches that are easy to win”, said Maja.

Asked how he planned to lift the spirit of the boys, Maja said the boys need not feel badly because they did everything humanly possible to claim victory. “I told my boys to be proud of themselves. We have our targets set on developing new players and competing with the best. Experiences like this one will come in handy in the future.”

Young Stars Academy will have a chance to end the year on a high note when they participate in the MTN Cup next month.