He had never lost and if he was going to lose it had to be in style and indeed it was in style, writes Simba Nembaware.
Sunday's encounter against Oodi based Vuvuzela (a Ndebele/Zulu word for sprinkle) had all the ingredients of a thrilling encounter as this was FC Broadhurst's first out of town match in as many seasons. This was also the day when for the first time the team had more than one substitute on the bench: it had six though only two were effective.
The departure time set for Oodi was 9 am but the team only left over an hour late as a three men strong negotiating party had to be sent to Benji's place and plead with his wife who had not only locked him in the house but also hid his soccer boots. When the visa was granted, all roads led to Oodi.
The first half went well because at the interval the visitors were leading 2-1 and the result remained the same for just over a quarter of an hour into the second before Coach Bongs pressed a self destruction button. He had made one change during the break, bringing in one lanky player who seemed to be good during warm ups but he was to create cracks on FC Broadhurst's defense wall had been well marshaled by Thando, Ronny and Thutsi. Thutsi was rested and another disappointing wing back entered the fray and by now Vuvuzela was really sprinkling its presence all over the visitors' 18 yard area. With no able support from the wings, the duo of Thando and Ronny finally gave in and the pacy hosts had a great feast.
Bra Hlo who was the right link in midfield was taken out and replaced by the team's goal keeper who naturally could not hold the ball with his feet. The coach's error was worsened by the injury inspired exist of Simba. He had been tasked to play the holding position in the midfield but his feet could not carry him anymore due to excruciating pain from his fibula; its been nagging him for a month now.
Benji had started the game at central defense but was shifted to right wing back "because he can't use his head" and later was thrust upfront to partner Zeal in strikeforce. The exist of Bra Hlo and Simba saw him being dropped into midfield so that he could partner Tiego and Zex. In a single game he had played all positions serve for goal keeping and that really summed up FC Broadhurst's day.
When the referee blew the final whistle it was 8-2 in favour of the hosts and Coach Bongs apologized to his charges; "I am the one to blame for today's loss, i wanted to accommodate everyone since we had traveled all the way down here and i wanted everyone to play. This won't happen again guys."
Friday, April 16, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
A twisted Easter Holiday
The Easter holiday provided FC Broadhurst with a well deserved stern test of their physic and technical awareness as they played a two legged match that they won on away goals rule after the tie had ended on Easter Monday in a 4 all goal aggregate.
Although both matches were played at Marang CJSS, it was agreed in principle that FC Broadhurst would be the home team in reverse fixture while hosts Sedudu FC were to be the visiting team on that day. Broadhurst won their away fixture by 3-2 and then lost their home fixture 2-1.
In the first match played on Friday, Tiego scored a brace while Toffy completed the scoring on a day that all of the team's departments were tested- from the goalkeeper to the strike force. The solitary goal on Monday came off the boot of Ronny. Vusa Mrava was back in goals and he did what he knows best-let in a silly goal when everyone thought he had the weak shot covered.
As Sedudu threatened to come back into the game, Coach Bongs replaced the comical Mrava in goals with Thutsi who had had another outstanding performance on the left wing of defense. He preserved the team's lead ahead of the reverse fixture that marked the return of goalkeeper Ndumiso "Ndumba" Mthombemi who was however on the losing end of the game. The match also marked the return to football for Gift Mawoyo who had last played soccer half a decade ago: he did not disappoint as signs of a footballer could still be seen in his runs and passes.
It was a really bad week for Ndumba as he had planned to celebrate his birthday in style on Wednesday but this was not to be as he was beaten twice thereby handing victory to Sedudu and then his team, Manchester United, was knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich on Wednesday night.
The referee was provided by the host team and he failed to be impartial as he fouls on Toffy went unpunished and even an early penalty appeal by FC Broadhurst was ignored but the slightest of touches on a Sedudu player got more than extra attention from the referee. Coach Bongs seemed to have had enough of it as he walked onto the pitch after the referee had ignored a dangerous tackle by a Sedudu player on Ronny and then seconds later charge a foul against Broadhurst's Mozy for a fair challenge. Without mincing his words, Bongs put it to the referee in no uncertain terms that he should resist the temptation of favouring his team. Talk straight talk coupled with outbursts from Mozy saw the referee quit the match.
The referee's exist was more of good riddance to rubbish as the new referee, despite his tender age, took the game by the collar and controlled it well with no complaints from both sides.
Many were the talking points of the Easter holidays matches but chief among them was Benji's lack of patience. After calling for ball he stops running when he does not get an immediate pass which naturally gives defenders an advantage over him. It was realized that he has now developed a penchant of not chasing 50/50 balls with defenders.
Discipline was lacking during both fixtures and quite a number of players were found wanting. In the first fixture everyone felt undone by the biased referee but some players lost their cool and started arguing with the match official with one international based player saying "fuseki, refa sentle monna".
Thutsi was hacked down during one of his raids upfront on the left wing and all he cared about as he got up from the ground was to grab the Sedudu player's neck but thank heavens he could reach for him as he was limping and leaping on one leg. Heaven knows what would have happened if the Sedudu player had stood his ground and Thutsi had managed to hop up to him.
Another point of note was that both fixtures were played without Zeal and Tinz, the team's outright strikers. Benji was a lonely figure upfront but that did not matter as goals still came from the midfielders. All the team's four goals that it banged over the two fixtures were from midfielders thereby raising questions about Benji's ability to score in the absence of Zeal and Tinz.
The return fixture saw Freedmore, Benji and Enock bring along their wives to cheer them. However the three ladies chose to seat in Freed's car and gossip all they wanted after they had been intimidated by the countless number of women who stood on the other side of the pitch cheering their "men".
It is hoped that lessons learnt over the Easter holidays will be put into practice this Sunday when Broadhurst takes on Kgalagadi Breweries at the National Stadium in a match that promises to be cracker as the alcohol manufacturers are frothing with anger after they were humbled by Broadhurst early last month. Broadhurst will still be without Tinz, while Parkers and Mozy will be absent however there are reports that Zeal, Tawu and Thando are back from the holidays.
Although both matches were played at Marang CJSS, it was agreed in principle that FC Broadhurst would be the home team in reverse fixture while hosts Sedudu FC were to be the visiting team on that day. Broadhurst won their away fixture by 3-2 and then lost their home fixture 2-1.
In the first match played on Friday, Tiego scored a brace while Toffy completed the scoring on a day that all of the team's departments were tested- from the goalkeeper to the strike force. The solitary goal on Monday came off the boot of Ronny. Vusa Mrava was back in goals and he did what he knows best-let in a silly goal when everyone thought he had the weak shot covered.
As Sedudu threatened to come back into the game, Coach Bongs replaced the comical Mrava in goals with Thutsi who had had another outstanding performance on the left wing of defense. He preserved the team's lead ahead of the reverse fixture that marked the return of goalkeeper Ndumiso "Ndumba" Mthombemi who was however on the losing end of the game. The match also marked the return to football for Gift Mawoyo who had last played soccer half a decade ago: he did not disappoint as signs of a footballer could still be seen in his runs and passes.
It was a really bad week for Ndumba as he had planned to celebrate his birthday in style on Wednesday but this was not to be as he was beaten twice thereby handing victory to Sedudu and then his team, Manchester United, was knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich on Wednesday night.
The referee was provided by the host team and he failed to be impartial as he fouls on Toffy went unpunished and even an early penalty appeal by FC Broadhurst was ignored but the slightest of touches on a Sedudu player got more than extra attention from the referee. Coach Bongs seemed to have had enough of it as he walked onto the pitch after the referee had ignored a dangerous tackle by a Sedudu player on Ronny and then seconds later charge a foul against Broadhurst's Mozy for a fair challenge. Without mincing his words, Bongs put it to the referee in no uncertain terms that he should resist the temptation of favouring his team. Talk straight talk coupled with outbursts from Mozy saw the referee quit the match.
The referee's exist was more of good riddance to rubbish as the new referee, despite his tender age, took the game by the collar and controlled it well with no complaints from both sides.
Many were the talking points of the Easter holidays matches but chief among them was Benji's lack of patience. After calling for ball he stops running when he does not get an immediate pass which naturally gives defenders an advantage over him. It was realized that he has now developed a penchant of not chasing 50/50 balls with defenders.
Discipline was lacking during both fixtures and quite a number of players were found wanting. In the first fixture everyone felt undone by the biased referee but some players lost their cool and started arguing with the match official with one international based player saying "fuseki, refa sentle monna".
Thutsi was hacked down during one of his raids upfront on the left wing and all he cared about as he got up from the ground was to grab the Sedudu player's neck but thank heavens he could reach for him as he was limping and leaping on one leg. Heaven knows what would have happened if the Sedudu player had stood his ground and Thutsi had managed to hop up to him.
Another point of note was that both fixtures were played without Zeal and Tinz, the team's outright strikers. Benji was a lonely figure upfront but that did not matter as goals still came from the midfielders. All the team's four goals that it banged over the two fixtures were from midfielders thereby raising questions about Benji's ability to score in the absence of Zeal and Tinz.
The return fixture saw Freedmore, Benji and Enock bring along their wives to cheer them. However the three ladies chose to seat in Freed's car and gossip all they wanted after they had been intimidated by the countless number of women who stood on the other side of the pitch cheering their "men".
It is hoped that lessons learnt over the Easter holidays will be put into practice this Sunday when Broadhurst takes on Kgalagadi Breweries at the National Stadium in a match that promises to be cracker as the alcohol manufacturers are frothing with anger after they were humbled by Broadhurst early last month. Broadhurst will still be without Tinz, while Parkers and Mozy will be absent however there are reports that Zeal, Tawu and Thando are back from the holidays.
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