Pro Philani’s Mzansi Football Wrap

This weekend’s GladAfrica Championship fixtures saw 19 goals in total scored with plenty of action from across the country. In what is known as a historic season in the history of the PSL where all 9 provinces are represented, it is the new boys who continue to set the league alight.

On Friday, experienced mentor Roger de Sa took charge of his second match as coach of Cape Town All Stars at home and led his side to a first home win when they defeated TS Sporting 3-2 in a fiercely contested encounter.

The home side took an early lead in the 9th minute through Eliezar Rodgers. It was the visitors, Abantu Bomthetho, who raised the pace of the match and found an equalizer late in the first half via a penalty which was subsequently converted by Mokate.

In the 53rd minute, Sporting took lead for the first time through former Richard’s Bay man Paseka Sekese. Igugu leKapa took charge of the final ten minutes as Mdabuka converted a penalty in the 84th minute before Kammies found a winner in the 90th minute.

Abantu Bomthetho will feel hard done by this result, but there were plenty of positives to take away.

Cape Town Spurs continue to struggle as they failed to register a win away at the Peter Mokaba Stadium against Polokwane City. The Limpopo side went into the break leading 1-0 through a 16th-minute goal kept a foot on the Cape side’s throat throughout the game.

Spurs were left to rue missed chances by Ndondo, Abednigo and Junior Sibande which could’ve turned the tie around for them. City landed a sucker punch and ended any hopes of a comeback from Spurs as they scored their second of the match in the 90th minute.

The Cape side escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth last season and will be hoping for an improved showing going forward. Winless, but not hopeless for the Ikamva boys. Polokwane City remains unbeaten.

Up in the Venda district there was a Venda derby. The “status buyers derby”. Tshakuma Tsha Matshivhandila were beaten 1-0 by Venda Football Academy.

The Academy Boys, who are mentored by the veteran Johnny Ferreira, came to the Glad Africa Championship after purchasing the Cape Umoya franchise, while TTM came through after buying Royal AM status.

Both sides lived up to the derby theme in this fiercely contested match. Venda Football Academy will be happy with how things have gone so far as they remain unbeaten in the league.

Meanwhile, the other new boys Hungry Lions from the Northern Cape also secured a win away from home against Pretoria Callies, the side who raised eyebrows by signing 24 new players for the 2021/22 season.

Hungry Lions drew their first match at home against Uthongathi, and were fortunate to score two quick goals in this match against Callies after trailing by a goal to nil earlier on. Callies remain bottom of the log having lost both of their opening clashes. It remains to be seen if Joel Masutha will remain in the Callies hot seat.

The other new boys from the Platinum Province, Platinum City Rovers climbed to the top of the log after beating The Hammer Boys, JDR, 3-2 in North West.

JDR were first on the score sheet through new signing Tapiwa Mandinyenya in the 5th minute. It was the home side who needed to respond, and respond they did in the 19th minute through Thabiso Nkoana.

Nkoana bagged his second goal in the 22nd minute, and the platinum boys went to the break leading 2-1 at Olien Park. It looked like both sides would settle for a draw when Chiwunga slotted an 87th minute penalty to equalize for JDR.

However, William Radebe of Rovers popped up with a 90th-minute winner to give the North West outfit the win. 

The pride of the capital city was restored by University of Pretoria who defeated Jomo Cosmos 1-0. AmaTuks, having lost their opening fixture through awful goalkeeping needed a response this week.

Cosmos were pushed second from bottom by this defeat and will look to turn their fortunes around before conversations about relegation start being whispered in the corridors.

In KZN, it was a weekend of draws as Richard’s Bay played to a goalless draw against Free State Stars while Uthongathi came from behind to secure their second draw in two games against Limpopo side Black Leopards at the Princess Magogo Stadium, KwaMashu.

Uthongathi equalized via an Issa Sarr penalty in the 53rd minute. The Cane Cutters will need to shake this habit of drawing games which ultimately cost them automatic promotion last season.