Mdantsane-based ABC Motsepe League giants Tornado FC are on course for qualification in next year’s Nedbank Cup while last year’s Eastern Cape representatives in the competition, FC Buffalo, will watch the action on TV.
Tornado defeated FC Buffalo at the weekend 1-0 after the latter had earlier emerged victorious against Angavu Stars. Tornado got a free ticket to the final after opponents Cacadu United showed up late. The game was declared a “walkover”.
Tornado assistant coach Sizwe Magadla was “surprised” by the victory, as he and head coach Jerry Sikhosana have only been on the job for four months. Nevertheless, he now believes they can go all the way to next year’s Cup last 32.
“This is a surprise because we did not expect it so soon, as ours is work in progress. But we had prepared the team thoroughly for the game,” said Magadla, who was standing in for Sikhosana. Sikhosana could not be on the bench because of his SuperSport TV commitments.
“We told ourselves we were going to fight to the end. Indeed, we fought and won the battle. We are now gearing for the war.
“Yes, we had the advantage of the walkover while FC Buffalo had played two hours , but we did not take that to our heads. We approached the game the way we do all other games,” he said.
He continued: “I also think our fitness levels, which are high, gave us the upper hand. Also, the style of play we employed – playing short balls – confused the opponent.”
His counterpart, Simphiwe Nzama, in charge of FC Buffalo on an interim basis, thought his fatigued charges playing against fresh Tornado players was “unfair”.
A fuming Nzama, commenting after the game, said: “I think it is unfair, but then again it is football.
“We also got a red card, which I do not think we deserved. The incident was a 50/50 situation players who went for the ball, but the referee decided we deserved the red.
“Nonetheless, I am not going to dwell on that.”
The team will now shift their focus to the league, which Nzama thinks “we did not win last year partly because of our participation in the Nedbank Cup up to the last 16”.
Nzama is willing to “assist” the club because he is stepping down from today, when William Mugeyi takes over the baton.
Back to the game, the first half – which ended goalless – was an all-Tornado affair, although neither team had clear-cut scoring opportunities. But Tornado showed more intent of wanting to net goals.
During the beginning of the closing stanza, Tornado continued where they left off in the opening half. Their efforts were rewarded when Thamsanqa Moni banged one in 20 minutes before the final whistle.
Moni benefited from FC Buffalo’s poor defending of a corner kick. Moni found himself unmarked deep inside the penalty box and made no mistake when it counted.
After the scoreline ticked up, FC Buffalo launched attacks on Tornado. But the equaliser never came, although the home team’s performance had dropped.
Before FC Buffalo knew it, the final whistle blew. It was joy for Mdantsane football lovers and misery for the visitors.
Tornado have not arrived yet, though, to their desired destination because they will have to face off with La Liga, Mthatha City and Real City on their quest to become the Eastern Cape’s qualifier to the lucrative Nedbank Cup.
High drama as Tornado inch closer to Cup dream
Tornado defeated FC Buffalo at the weekend 1-0 after the latter had earlier emerged victorious against Angavu Stars. Tornado got a free ticket to the final after opponents Cacadu United showed up late. The game was declared a “walkover”.
Tornado assistant coach Sizwe Magadla was “surprised” by the victory, as he and head coach Jerry Sikhosana have only been on the job for four months. Nevertheless, he now believes they can go all the way to next year’s Cup last 32.
“This is a surprise because we did not expect it so soon, as ours is work in progress. But we had prepared the team thoroughly for the game,” said Magadla, who was standing in for Sikhosana. Sikhosana could not be on the bench because of his SuperSport TV commitments.
“We told ourselves we were going to fight to the end. Indeed, we fought and won the battle. We are now gearing for the war.
“Yes, we had the advantage of the walkover while FC Buffalo had played two hours , but we did not take that to our heads. We approached the game the way we do all other games,” he said.
He continued: “I also think our fitness levels, which are high, gave us the upper hand. Also, the style of play we employed – playing short balls – confused the opponent.”
His counterpart, Simphiwe Nzama, in charge of FC Buffalo on an interim basis, thought his fatigued charges playing against fresh Tornado players was “unfair”.
A fuming Nzama, commenting after the game, said: “I think it is unfair, but then again it is football.
“We also got a red card, which I do not think we deserved. The incident was a 50/50 situation players who went for the ball, but the referee decided we deserved the red.
“Nonetheless, I am not going to dwell on that.”
The team will now shift their focus to the league, which Nzama thinks “we did not win last year partly because of our participation in the Nedbank Cup up to the last 16”.
Nzama is willing to “assist” the club because he is stepping down from today, when William Mugeyi takes over the baton.
Back to the game, the first half – which ended goalless – was an all-Tornado affair, although neither team had clear-cut scoring opportunities. But Tornado showed more intent of wanting to net goals.
During the beginning of the closing stanza, Tornado continued where they left off in the opening half. Their efforts were rewarded when Thamsanqa Moni banged one in 20 minutes before the final whistle.
Moni benefited from FC Buffalo’s poor defending of a corner kick. Moni found himself unmarked deep inside the penalty box and made no mistake when it counted.
After the scoreline ticked up, FC Buffalo launched attacks on Tornado. But the equaliser never came, although the home team’s performance had dropped.
Before FC Buffalo knew it, the final whistle blew. It was joy for Mdantsane football lovers and misery for the visitors.
Tornado have not arrived yet, though, to their desired destination because they will have to face off with La Liga, Mthatha City and Real City on their quest to become the Eastern Cape’s qualifier to the lucrative Nedbank Cup.
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