Money might be able to acquire a great deal, but, more often than not, it fails to buy success in soccer.
This was the lesson a razor-sharp Golden Arrows handed Thanda Royal Zulu while coasting to a comfortable 3-1 Premier Soccer League victory at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban on Saturday afternoon.
Arrows, who are now playing some of the most entertaining and clinical soccer in the league and are virtually assured a place among the top eight teams at the end of the season, consist almost entirely of players who have come through the junior ranks.
Thanda Royal, in contrast, are not only made up mainly of a succession of expensive signings, but they even bought their way into the league by acquiring the Benoni United franchise with a chequebook instead of the more conventional and desirable means of promotion.
And, in spite of their wealth, Thanda Royal looked a beaten, bothered and bewildered combination after only 24 minutes, with Arrows running rings around them and acquiring a 2-0 lead midway through the opening half through goals from Mauricio Pequenino (fifth minute) and Abia Nale (24th minute).
The opportunist Nale secured his second goal of the game in the 71st minute with a snappy, close-range shot to make the score 3-0 — and then declared, after being voted man of the match: ”I was not happy with my performance. I can do a lot better.”
Thanda Royal scored an impressive headed consolation goal in the 79th minute through Serge Djiehoua — but not before the burly Ivorian striker, who came on as a second-half substitute, had squandered two easier chances earlier.
But the small, 3 000-strong crowd generally saw their favoured Arrows well in command against the team hovering in the relegation zone, with Thanda Royal foiled by a composed Brendan Wardle in the home team’s goal on the few occasions they threatened any danger. — Sapa