Posted on November 14, 2011 15:48
Residents of Richards Bay and surrounding areas were treated to beautiful football when local side Thanda Royal Zulu and AmaZulu clashed at Umhlathuze Sport Grounds on Saturday.
Both teams displayed great football despite half of Neil Tovey and Roger Palmgren’s first team starters watching the match from the stands.
Usuthu’s Moses Chavula almost got the first goal in the opening stages of the game when he unleashed an ambitious strike from the left hand side which beat the keeper only to hit the left post.
Ayanda Dlamini and Gavin kept the Thanda defense to their toes in the first half with their darting runs and were almost rewarded on one move when Hammers struck the ball over the top bar with the keeper well beaten.
The home side also kept Mbongeni Mzimela busy through out the game with midfielder Sthembiso Dlamini’s intitiated moves always forcing the best of the AmaZulu keeper. In the second half Manqoba Ngwenya rose over the AmaZulu defense to pounce over a cross on the box but failed to score.
AmaZulu won 4-2 on penalties after the 0-0 score line at the end of full time. The Durban team was presented with the trophy and were officially crowned winners of the CANSA Kick-Off 2011 challenge.
AmaZulufc.net spoke to Muziwandile Khwela who despite being kept busy through the match said he enjoyed the run and the opportunity to play in the lively atmosphere.
“It was a good game even though it was a bit tough. It is true that most of us who were fielded don’t normally start but we came n and played our hearts out.
I’m happy the coach gave us a chance.
Most importantly the fact that we played for a good course like educating people about cancer,” said Khwela.
On Monday AmaZulu will play against Vodacom League side Durban Warriors in the KZN Reserve League.