New Winnerspark Coach Stanley “Bingo” Kgatla
By: Refilwe Sebola
Winnerspark new mentor, Stanley “Bingo” Kgatla, has made an impressive impact by leading the team to their first victory of the season.
They secured a decisive 2-1 win against Black Leopards in the ABC Motsepe League’s second match at Xikokwana Stadium last Saturday. Kgatla joined Winnerspark just two weeks prior to this match, just before facing last season’s champions, Mpheni Defenders, which ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat.
This past weekend marked Kgatla’s first full week with the Bellevue-based team, culminating in a well-deserved victory that was achieved in the second half after a scoreless first half. The visiting Black Leopards, who were at the top of the league table, initially took the lead. However, Winnerspark demonstrated their resilience by equalizing just 15 minutes later with a penalty kick converted by Themba Mazibuko after striker Mafa Funeka was fouled in the penalty area.
The winning goal came from an impressive play by KZN player Ayanda Lembede, who skillfully finished a one-on-one opportunity against the Black Leopards’ goalkeeper. Currently, the club sits in seventh place on the league table with three points, just one point away from breaking into the top four. Kgatla, alongside his assistant coach and Winnerspark legend Isaac “Wacko” Senyolo, praised the team’s performance and expressed strong optimism for the upcoming matches. This weekend, they will face White Vultures in Selwane, with kickoff set for 15:00.