Friendly football was the order of the day in a recent match between teams from Hibiscus Hospital and Harbourview SuperSpar.
It was all smiles and handshakes at the start, but before long, the competitive juices started to flow and what a match it turned out to be, with Spar winning 4-3.
The match was played on the St Martin de Porres field.
Spar struck first with a deft touch from striker Mkhweshu Jula.
He was back at it not long after for another to make it 2-0, and at that stage, it looked like Hibiscus might be in for a long afternoon chasing the ball around the field.
But they struck back with a piledriver from Sbu Madlala, the ball screaming into the top right corner of the goal. No one on the planet was going to stop that.
The game ebbed and flowed, with chances at both ends.
Jula produced some more silky skills upfront to make it 3-1 before Thanda Gumede scored for Hibiscus to keep them in contention.
Jula then rounded off a spectacular day with a fourth goal to see the score go to 4-2.
Madlala knocked in a goal for Hibiscus late in the game to keep the score-line respectable.
“It was a friendly match, the first soccer game for our Hibiscus Hospital team,” said captain Ace Mokone.
“We started a soccer team and wanted to see how we could fare with the other teams. It is a start for us to build a competitive soccer team going forward.”
The Spar team is already playing friendly games with other teams from local companies and government departments, and Hibiscus plans to do something similar.
“The plan is for us to continue playing friendlies just like Spar, with the aim of joining a local league, but only once we have full fitness and commitment from our players,” said Ace.
Hibiscus Hospital’s team comprised Ace Mokone (captain), Shiven Goberdan, Njova Shazi, Mini Shazi, Douglas Cele, Sbu Gumede, Thanda Gumede, Sbu Madlala, Mlu Danca, Raphael Mkhwanazi, Sanele Ndungane, Isaac Gampe and Luthando Mbhali.
Spar’s team was Mkhwesha Jula, Bandile Mnguni, Sthe Mbili, Nkanyiso Cele, Bongani Shibase, Mondli Nzama, Andile Yeni, Mlungisi Cele, Phumlani Mqadi, Andile Ntobela, Aubrey Mdopa (captain) and Mavin Nkomo.
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