King’s Court Academy celebrates after being crowned the inaugural Youth Day celebration U-15 tournament at Kgapane Stadium.
By: Refilwe Sebola
The highly talented King’s Court Academy from Modjadjiskloof were crowned champions of the inaugural Youth day celebration Under-15 tournament at Kgapane Stadium last Saturday.
They beat hapless Tshepo Academy side 5-4 on penalties after the game had ended in a one-all draw. The game was played at a high level of intensity and skill with both sides having a go at each other from the very first whistle.
Kings court drew first blood in the first half via a goal from their 14 year-old top striker Hluke Ndlovu who outran the Academy defender Titelo Sedima and beat Mahlatse Kgatla in goal with a simple tap in.
The halftime score was 1-0. Academy came back in to the second half guns blazing and completely mesmerized King’s court players with their brilliant passing game. Their efforts were well rewarded with a brilliant equalising goal in the early minutes of the second half via a clinically taken free-kick by 13 year-old Molefe Ramollo.
Academy got a golden opportunity to win the game few minutes thereafter when they were awarded a penalty but it was saved by the King’s Court goalkeeper. Few minutes afterwards an aggressive King’s Court team was also gifted with a penalty kick but it was saved by the Academy top goalkeeper.
King’s court received R800 cash, a floating trophy and gold medals as first prize while runners-up Tshepo Academy got R400 cash and silver medals. The talented Ramohlala team from Ga-Rapitsi received only bronze medals for finishing third. Fourteen year-old King’s Court striker Hluke Ndlovu won both the best player of the tournament and top goal scorer accolades while Academy goalkeeper Mahlatse Kgatla won the best goalkeeper award.
SAFA Mopani President, Vincent Ramphao thanked all the eight teams and their coaches for participating in the tournament and promised to establish a league for them. The rest of the results are as follows. Ramohlala 7 vs 0 Maapana, Tshepo Academy 4 vs Dream Team 0 , Mashona 1(4p) vs 1 (5p)Tsenyani, King’s Court 4 vs 2 Juventus,
Semifinal results: Tshepo Academy 4 vs Tsenyani 1, King’s Court 3 vs 1 Ramohlala.
Fourteen year-old King’s Court striker, Hluke Ndlovu (right) with his Coach Simon King George Kallai from Ghana.
Mahlatse Kgatla (14) of Tshepo Academy won the top goalkeeper award.
King’s Court player battles for the ball against a Tshepo Academy player during the Youth Soccer Tourney final.