Tsakani – The U11, U13 and U15 teams played their Gawula Africa tournament games at the Ext 13 ground on August 31.
The U11 teams set the tone on Saturday. Their game started on a shaky note, with high pressure from both teams.
Neither team scored any goals in either half. Gawula Africa coach Daniel Sithole said the game was good and competitive for his team.
“The game was challenging, especially because the U11 teams are still in the early stage of learning soccer. It requires a lot of patience from me as their coach and much hard work.
“My players still need to sharpen their ball control and shooting skills. I have noted that the ball sometimes gets too heavy for them to control, but over and above everything, I am happy with their performance and determination,” he said.
The game ended in penalties and a 3-1 win for Extension 11 United FC. Coach Boy Mkhabela said his team worked hard and showed focus and a strong will to win throughout the game.
“During the first half, we made many mistakes that our opposition tried to use against us but did not do so successfully.
“In the second half, my team corrected their mistakes and played passionately. I also managed to swap my players for better results.
“I further noticed that we should do more breathing exercises to help my players control their breathing patterns during games. Most struggle to control their breathing when running,” he said.
He said there would be a lot of running during practice to boost his players’ stamina, saying he is happy they played the game with the bar set high to achieve greatness.
The event ended with these teams winning medals and cups:
- U11: Extention 11 United FC
- U13: Gawula Africa
- U15: Lesetele United.
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