Maweja disappoint

After collecting the maximum points against A1 Terrors in Modimolle two weeks ago, Joe Maweja disappointed their enthusiastic fans at home last Saturday and were beaten 0-1 by Polokwane United at the Tshifulanani Stadium.

Maweja managed to display entertaining football, despite the fact that only two of their regular players, Khongotela Mahlaule and Walter Netshimbulu, were in their starting 11.

The youthful United showed no respect to their elders brothers as they demonstrated their dribbling skills within their own half without any fear time after time. The visitors from Polokwane threatened to score in the ninth minute. Their overlapping midfielder, Joseph Letsoalo, tried his luck from the 25-meter line with a half volley. The acrobatic keeper of Maweja, Eugene Mbedzi, stretched to the limit to execute a brilliant save.

Maweja had their chance in the 27^th minute when their centre forward, Walter Netshimbulu, forced his way through the defence of United and lost possession just before he could unleash from inside the box.

The goal that separated the boys from the men came in the 38^th minute. Tsepo Masela beat the offside trap and outsmarted the keeper with a ground cutter from close range. United nearly made it 2-0 at half time, when Eric Mokoena unleashed from the 35-meter area. The ball hit the woodwork and bounced outside the field of play for a goal kick.

Maweja replaced Walter Netshimbulu with Mashudu Mukhari in a bid to solidify their striking force. Mukhari cause an upset when he miskicked the ball within the box, much to the fans’ disappointment. United played defensive football in the last 20 minutes of the game.

Date:02 February 2017

By: Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990.  He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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