Randburg AFC’s U17 Gauteng development league (GDL) side produced one of their finest performances of the season on Saturday, beating a formidable Prestige side 2–1, despite being severely undermanned.
The result was all the more remarkable, given that Randburg headed into the fixture without six or seven first-choice players, forcing the coaching staff to shuffle their lineup and ask boys to play in unfamiliar positions. Prestige, who had lost only twice in the league before the game, had hammered Randburg 3–0 at their own ground earlier in the season.
Read more: Soccer tournament brings smiles to residents
Club chairperson and assistant coach Kevin Moody said the result spoke volumes about the character of his squad. “The players showed unbelievable character to win 2–1. It was a very good result from our point of view. Very proud of the boys. They showed unbelievable character and good determination.”
Also read: Young stars learn European soccer skills
Randburg led 2–0 going into the closing stages, but Prestige pulled one back in the final minute to set up a nervy finish. Moody noted that fatigue crept in towards the end, though only among the two substitutes, with the rest of the squad holding firm to see the game out.
Captain Lethabo Leshaba (16) reflected on a hard-fought contest. “It was a tough game, but we could dominate at times and dictate the game. It was a 50/50 game. We pushed each other and it was a well-played game on both sides.”
With the pressure mounting late on, Leshaba said his message to his teammates was simple. “I just told them to keep calm, play our game, put their mind in the game, and not lose focus.”
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates!
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Nelson Kgarose
www.citizen.co.za
