The Eastern Cape Physically Disabled boys soccer team proved their worth to Team EC at the annual SA Schools Sport Championships.
This after they won silver by ending runners-up at the championships in Pretoria this week, having achieved the same in the 2014 edition.
Eastern Cape went down 6-3 in a gruelling action-packed final against KwaZulu Natal. The final defeat to their KZN foes, was the only match the determined bunch of EC footballers lost in the competition.
EC coach Xolani Mambushe welcomed the silver medal victory, saying the loss was more as a result of player fatigue, due to the extremely hot conditions in the north.
He however praised his charges for putting up a great fight, and predicted that some of his players were future stars in the making, if they continued the form they displayed.
“Our team was much stronger than that of last year but were unfortunate not to win gold due to several factors that worked against us,” said Mambushe.
“I was expecting more from my boys but I must say the heat played a big part in us not winning the competition.”
Eastern Cape benefited from three walkover wins, following their opponents’ failure to show up in scheduled matches.
As a result, they played only three matches of the six they were scheduled to play in total, including the final.
Mambushe said this had worked against them, as the players were short of much-needed game time on the field of play.
However, Mambushe was still impressed by his charges in the matches they played.
“My boys performed very well, especially given that we had only one camp to train for this competition and to try combinations,” said Mambushe. “We could have easily won the final too but my players were just not there in the first half and, understandably so, because the heat had already taken its toll on their bodies.
“Be that as it may I am proud of my boys and cannot say there is anything they did that they could not have done in the final, because KZN were just the better team on the day.”
Mambushe singled out star performers in the team:
Loyiso Mbayimbayi, 19, – Vukuzenzele Special School: The youngster is gifted and has an intelligent left boot.
Songezo Magxwalisa, 17, – Khwezilokusa Special School: “He has improved a lot, and impressively so, from his performance last year, when he played inside and we have since turned him into a defender.
“In his new role, he did extremely well, way more than I had expected.”
Luyakhanya “Lil Messi” Sincinane, 14, – Vukuhambe Special School: Sincinane scored six goals, an improvement from last year’s event. Two were scored in just two matches. “He could have scored more had it not been for the walkovers we had on our road to the finale.”
Zuko Ntanjana, 19, – “Ntanjana is the midfield maestro of the team and his absence becomes a problem for his side because he makes them play.”
Sakhile Klaas, 18, – Northern Lights Special School: “Klaas was arguably one of the best defenders.”
Sinelizwi Tyhali, 19, – Khwezilokusa Special School: “He played well in all matches.”
There’s silver lining after the brave fight
This after they won silver by ending runners-up at the championships in Pretoria this week, having achieved the same in the 2014 edition.
Eastern Cape went down 6-3 in a gruelling action-packed final against KwaZulu Natal. The final defeat to their KZN foes, was the only match the determined bunch of EC footballers lost in the competition.
EC coach Xolani Mambushe welcomed the silver medal victory, saying the loss was more as a result of player fatigue, due to the extremely hot conditions in the north.
He however praised his charges for putting up a great fight, and predicted that some of his players were future stars in the making, if they continued the form they displayed.
“Our team was much stronger than that of last year but were unfortunate not to win gold due to several factors that worked against us,” said Mambushe.
“I was expecting more from my boys but I must say the heat played a big part in us not winning the competition.”
Eastern Cape benefited from three walkover wins, following their opponents’ failure to show up in scheduled matches.
As a result, they played only three matches of the six they were scheduled to play in total, including the final.
Mambushe said this had worked against them, as the players were short of much-needed game time on the field of play.
However, Mambushe was still impressed by his charges in the matches they played.
“My boys performed very well, especially given that we had only one camp to train for this competition and to try combinations,” said Mambushe. “We could have easily won the final too but my players were just not there in the first half and, understandably so, because the heat had already taken its toll on their bodies.
“Be that as it may I am proud of my boys and cannot say there is anything they did that they could not have done in the final, because KZN were just the better team on the day.”
Mambushe singled out star performers in the team:
Loyiso Mbayimbayi, 19, – Vukuzenzele Special School: The youngster is gifted and has an intelligent left boot.
Songezo Magxwalisa, 17, – Khwezilokusa Special School: “He has improved a lot, and impressively so, from his performance last year, when he played inside and we have since turned him into a defender.
“In his new role, he did extremely well, way more than I had expected.”
Luyakhanya “Lil Messi” Sincinane, 14, – Vukuhambe Special School: Sincinane scored six goals, an improvement from last year’s event. Two were scored in just two matches. “He could have scored more had it not been for the walkovers we had on our road to the finale.”
Zuko Ntanjana, 19, – “Ntanjana is the midfield maestro of the team and his absence becomes a problem for his side because he makes them play.”
Sakhile Klaas, 18, – Northern Lights Special School: “Klaas was arguably one of the best defenders.”
Sinelizwi Tyhali, 19, – Khwezilokusa Special School: “He played well in all matches.”
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