Their
coach, Gideon Maqokolo, has been coaching for 20 years, and has played the game
since he was 8 years old. His wealth of experience helped groom his players
into a formidable unit. “I am happy with how the team played in the provincial
finals,” he said. “We were well organised and their conduct on the field was
impeccable.”
“I
have taught them that a tournament setting is different from a friendly match.
You need to structure a game plan where you attack positively early in the game
and hopefully you can score early and defend a lead without using too much
energy. This helps collect points easily and helps avoid draws,” said Moqokolo.
“The
provincial final was a good learning curve for my boys. They are not used to
playing four games in a day, or playing in a stadium. I believe the challenges
we faced has improved the mental strength of my players and when they get to
the national finals they will know what to expect.”
Maqokolo
has a clear plan for the school. “My goal is to build a very strong under-12
team and then they can progress further as they get older. I am already grooming my under- 9 and
under-10 teams to play in the Danone Nations Cup when they get to the right age
group.”
Nkunzimbini
try to play basic football, Maqokolo says. “I encourage them to use the little
time they have to study their opponents on the field so they can read the
opposition and attack and defend properly. I love the fact that when my players
get home they play soccer in the streets with their peers. We discuss soccer a
lot as most of them watch soccer at home. After a game on TV we get together
the following day to discuss winning tactics as well as learn new tricks from
the game.”
Eastern Cape
Provincial Finals – Sisa Dukashe Stadium, Mdantsane, East London
Nkunzimbini
JSS 2 Vumile SPS 0
Langelitsha
SPS 0 Lukholo JSS 1
Ntabelanga
SPS 3 Bhongweni SPS 0
Nkunzimbini
JSS 3 Langelitsha SPS 0
Vumile
SPS 1 Lukholo JSS 0
Bhongweni
SPS 1 Jarvis Gqamlana 2
Lukholo
JSS 0 Nkunzimbini JSS 2
Langelitsha
SPS 0 Vumile SPS 1
Jarvis
Gqamlana 0 Ntabelanga SPS 3
Final
- Nkunzimbini JSS 0 Ntabelanga 0 (Kkunzimbini won 3-1 on penalties).
