FC Broadhurst gores Marina

Marina FC hold the unfamiliar title of being the only team to inflict damage to Chipolopolo’s amazing winning streak and as they took on FC Broadhurst yesterday, it was more of a given for them that victory was theirs as FC Broadhurst was still licking wounds from the unforgettable 5-1 defeat at the hands of Chipolopolo.


But Marina forgot that last week’s defeat was enough to incite an urge for better performance from Broadhurst as a consecutive defeat could not be entertained. It was a matter of egos that were bruised with no sign of mercy and it was a FC Broadhurst's turn to bruise the egos of Marina.

Once beaten twice shy- Coach Bongs was back on the bench to lead his charges. He pacified his wife by sending her on a shopping spree so that he could find time to out wit the doctors from Marina General Hospital. He immediately left after the game ended and no ill reports have been received from Mogoditshane implying all is well.

Employing Coach Bongs' attacking 4-3-3 formation, Marina were subjected to an avalanche of raids from the first whistle till close of play. Tawu partnered Mozy at central defense while Freed and Thando flanked them. Ronny was anchoring the midfield while Simba and Toffy completed the trio in midfield. Upfront was Zeal, Tinz and Benji.

A win over Marina was so crucial that coach Bongs could not rest Benji who joined the team at half time after a trip from Orapa. Signs of jet-leg could be seen in his game but he did not put a foot wrong although some felt he could have at least hit the back of the net after the referee had whistled him off-side: the lanky striker had skied his effort over the bar faced with a yawning goal.

Toffy, opened the scoring account for a match that would end 8-3 in favour of FC Broadhurst. Some people really know how to put into practice what they learn in class as exhibited by young Toffy who is studying Sports Science at South Africa's North West University. His industry in midfield told a story of a person who knows what he is doing - his deft touches resulted in well calibrated passes to the strikers.

Freed has been playing exceptionally well of late and it is unfortunate that mention is always given to goal scorers only. He had another sterling performance on the pitch and he capped the fine day's work by heading home his first goal of the season. It took long to come but it was worth the wait as it came at a time when Marina was now threatening to come back into the game. Toffy had won a corner just a quarter of an hour into the second half and as Ronny lined up to take it, Freed beckoned him to direct it to his forehead- and as it was in the days of David Beckham and Dwight Yorke, the goalkeeper could only pick the ball from the back of the net.

Not to be outdone by his defense colleague, Thando made a surging run on the right flank in the process out muscling his two markers, he then slid the ball to Tinz after selling a dummy to another defender who had ran over to assist his despairing teammates. Tinz then did a perfect rendition of typical Lionel Messi goals. He rounded an advancing goalkeeper and left him in a heap before curling the ball into the bottom far left end of the goal, way out of reach of a defender who was stretching his tired legs in futile attempt to prevent an inevitable reality.

With victory certain, FC Broadhurst started toying with Marina. Zeal received a flamboyant pass from Toffy and he said his thank yous to the young man by weaving his way through a thicket of Marina defenders and midfielders with the ball closely guarded at his feet. They tried to floor him but his big frame denied them, instead he literally left them for dead. He got them hacking each other as they now tried to prevent him from unleashing a thunderbolt of shot at goal. Two dreadlocked Marina defenders got into each other's way and all that could be seen were dreadlocks all over the place, a bundle of soccer boots and a smiling Zeal.

Marina tried hard to get back into the game but their midfield was denied space to manourve thereby starving their strikers. FC Broadhurst's defense kept a high line which meant more cover for its midfield while leaving Marina strikers in the offside position. Mozy and Tawu were now playing as midfielders and surely who could resist the sweet temptation as Marina seemed to have resigned, accepted defeat and merely waiting for the final whistle.