The Makhado Local Football Association's U/15 team proved all the critics wrong and beat the much-feared FNB Makwarela 4-3 in the final of the FNB U/15 regional championship at the Makwarela Stadium on Saturday.
Makwarela took the game to their opponents from the onset, but their strikers were unlucky. Makhado relaxed on the ball and frustrated their opponents by playing aerial balls from behind. Shadrack Ndlovu, the Makwarela diminutive dribbling wizard, was a difficult player to contain. He was everywhere, creating defence-splitting moves from behind, while at the same time overlapping to assist the strikers from time to time.
Makwarela threatened to score in the 18th minute. Their left winger, Tshifhiwa Muthuphei, unleashed a volley from the edge of the box. The ball hit the woodwork and bounced back into the field of play. Realizing that their scoring chances were slim, Makhado forgot about scoring and channeled all their energy into the defence.
That resulted in Makwarela's launching numerous attacks from the middle of the park. Makhado did not panic, despite the fact that the opponents were dictating terms in all departments in the last 10 minutes of the first half. To prove that they were not concerned about scoring, three of the four players Makhado introduced in the last half were defenders.
Makwarela replaced Tshifhiwa Muthuphei and Ntanganedzeni Muthivhi with Mulisa Nephawe and Aluwani Mudau respectively in a bid to strengthen their striking force. That did not change the complexion of the game as the scoreboard remained blank until the final whistle was blown. The winner was determined through a penalty shoot-out.