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FOOTBALL NEWS - Despite the chilly weather on Saturday 3 June, the sport loving communities of Plettenberg Bay turned up in large numbers to support the last fixture of the Safa Eden Regional League at Kwa-Nokuthula Stadium.
Plettenberg Bay's Oriented Birds Football Club was officially crowned as the Men's League champions after beating Knysna Celtics 2-1 in their last game of the 2022/23 season. The three goals of the game were converted by Siyanda Madlala for Oriented Birds and Khanyiso Fatyela for Knysna Celtics.
The Birds claimed their tittle in style after winning 26 games with 4 games ending in draws. They scored 89 and conceded 15 goals during the entire season, sitting comfortably at the top of the log table with 82 points.
Limile Manana, Oriented Birds u.21 player, is one of the young players who played a pivotal role in their league campaign. Knysna Celtics avoided and escaped the relegation after playing beautiful football in the second leg of the league.
The Birds' Siyanda Madlala netted the first goal of the game after a frightful pass from the centre of the field. Knysna tried to retaliate with positive moves, but they failed to break through the Birds' back line.
The first 45 minutes of the game ended 1-0 with the Birds leading into the break. The second half saw both teams chasing the game, creating more opportunities inside the box.
Madlala managed to beat Celtics' Andile Kolo for the second time to score the second goal after beautiful touches and a cross ball from the right side of the field. The last goal of the game was scored by Khanyiso Fatyela of Knysna Celtics. Not many chances were created in the last minutes of the game.
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Oriented Birds will be joining the other six Western Cape Regional League winners in the provincial third division playoffs to ABC Motsepe Provincial League for the upcoming 2023/24 season.
The top two winners in the playoffs will be automatically promoted to the Western Cape ABC Motsepe Provincial League. The playoffs will take place on 1 and 2 July in the West Coast Region.
Oriented Birds head coach Marx Banzi said after Saturday's game that it was difficult to get the regional league campaign off the ground as it was his first season in the Eden Region.
Oriented Birds in a celebratory mood with the Safa Eden trophy in their hands.
"I noticed that most teams are serious about their game, and players are playing beautiful football. The most important part of it is commitment and discipline and if they keep on working hard, the results will come their way. Going forward, we will be preparing for the upcoming Western Cape third division playoffs."
Zitho Tyontwana, Oriented Birds chairman, thanked the football fraternity in Eden and the community of Kwa-Nokuthula for their massive support.
"Without their support Oriented Birds is nothing. Our main aim is to bring back football to the communities. Winning the Regional Men's League is a passport that on its own does not mean you are through to the playoffs. You need to work harder and dig deeper in order to achieve your goals. Going forward, we are focusing on creating a powerful team that will compete with the best of the province and will stay in the Provincial League for longer periods."
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