Forthright Silver Stars coach Owen da Gama emphasised on Sunday after his team’s goalless Premier Soccer League (PSL) draw against Bloemfontein Celtic at Rustenburg’s Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace that he is a hard man to please.
Cinderella club Stars, who have reached next weekend’s Telkom Knockout final against Ajax Cape Town, vaulted back to the top of the PSL log as a result of the simultaneous shock defeat suffered by Wits University against Benoni United.
But instead of eulogising his team, De Gama was grumpy and unhappy over what he called ”the lack of commitment against Celtic”.
”You could have thought the players would have put more life and endeavour into their play after getting this far — and facing a cup final to boot,” said the Stars coach. ”I’m very disappointed over what I’ve seen on display.”
However, no one else in the Stars camp seemed anything but happy and content after a line-up weakened by the absence of several players who were rested for the Ajax clash had played out a gruelling and unrelenting draw.
On a steamy, energy-sapping afternoon, the final score line between well-matched and uncompromising teams accurately reflected the course of the battle.
But while the two tight-marking defences generally held sway, Stars were saved from possible defeat by a sensational 65th-minute save by goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands from a John Maduka free-kick scorcher.
And at the other end in second-half action, Dikgang Mashonaba missed a golden opportunity of opening the score from point-blank range and Celtic goalkeeper Shoab Walters raced precariously from his penalty area to intercept and avoid impending danger — receiving a yellow card in the process for impeding a Stars player.
Wits removed from top spot
Bidvest Wits relinquished their top position on the PSL log when they were beaten by Benoni Premier United 2-1 at the Mehlareng Stadium in Tembisa on Sunday afternoon.
The kick-off was delayed for 20 minutes because of a Highveld thundershower.
The teams were level 1-0 at the break.
The Benoni PSL rookies surprised the Students when striker Abayoni Adebayo scored as early as the 10th minute before Wits striker Marcos de Jesus levelled matters on the half-hour mark to increase his PSL goal tally to eight.
But Benoni proved they are in the PSL to stay when midfielder Sello Mhlambi scored the winning goal seven minutes before time to give the Rabbits’ supporters a reason to celebrate.
Midweek on Wednesday Benoni beat Cosmos 1-0 away from home and by beating Wits collected a maximum six points in four days — providing a warning that other teams must be wary of the rampant Rabbits.
Swallows fly high
Moroka Swallows gained a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday afternoon.
The game never rose to any great heights, and windy and rainy conditions made ball control difficult. Swallows drew first blood in the first half when Tsweu Mokoro slotted home in the second minute of the game. He struck a 35m bullet that Aime Kitenge could not stop.
In the 12th minute Maime Niang failed to capitalise on Kitenge’s mistake. Kitenge pushed the ball, which landed back at Niang who shot over the poles.
Before that, a Cedo Masuku header missed with only Swallows goalkeeper Greg Etafia well beaten. Graham King of United capitalised on Etafia’s mistake on a rebound to level matters in the 20th minute of the game.
The Dube-based Swallows were awarded a penalty in the 43rd minute that was slotted in by Niang after Michael Makgalita handled the ball inside the box, for which he was given his marching orders.
In the 51st minute, hero-turned-villain Mokoro was sent off for an early shower for a second bookable offence, and in the dying minutes Lefa Tsustsulupha was also shown a red card.
Leopards beat United
On a hot day in the Limpopo province Black Leopards beat Supersport United 1-0 in their PSL game played at Thohoyandou Stadium on Sunday afternoon. There was no score at the interval.
Both teams started the game at a slow pace, probably as a result of the trying conditions.
Supersport coach Pitso Mosimane made three substitutions in the second half in the hope of a goal that never came. Mosimane replaced goalkeeper Dennis Onyago with Andre Arendse and Shane Poegenpoel with Richard Rantjie, while Thabo September was replced by Tsietsi Mahoa.
However, the Leopards started controlling proceedings. Deep into the second half, Leopards midfielder Kenoni Gondwe had a good chance to score, but but shot wide.
Just as it seemed neither side would make the breakthrough, Leopards’ super-sub Khixeb Costa scored the game’s only goal.
It was a smart move from Leopards coach Mlungisi Ngubane to bring in fresh legs, with United tiring as a result of the heat.
But when referee Leslie Deane blew the final whistle, coach Mosimane together with his team protested that Costa had scored with the assistance of his hand.
Arrows beat Cosmos
Lamontville Golden Arrows inflicted another blow on Jomo Cosmos in a fast, entertaining PSL encounter played at Huntersfield Stadium on Sunday. It was Cosmos’s second defeat within four days after being beaten 2-1 by Benoni Premier United on Wednesday at home.
Arrows were leading 2-0 at half-time.
The man who upset the Cosmos supporters was striker Vusimuzi Vilakazi, who scored a brace. Cosmos tried hard in the second half to level matters but only managed to score a single goal through top goalscorer Chris Katongo.
Katongo was tripped inside the box and Cosmos were awarded a penalty — with Katongo converting.
Despite Cosmos’s defeat, striker Katongo is still leading the goal-scoring charts with 11 goals for his credit.
After winning in midweek, Arrows coach Khabo Zondo proclaimed ”we will be relegated over my dead body” — and after collecting six points in the week, Arrows have moved away from the bottom of the log for the first time this season. — Sapa