Raul Stars catch Young Brothers by surprise

FOOTBALL NEWS - The youthful side from Thembalethu, Raul Stars FC, sank Young Brothers FC 3-2 on Sunday 18 April at the Thembalethu Stadium in their fourth game in the Geolfa (George Local Football Association) League.

The five goals were scored by Lilitha Jantjies and Zukhanye Mkhefe (scoring a brace from set pieces) for Raul Stars, and Vuyisa Ntulo and Mava Mooi (scored a penalty) for Young Brothers FC.

Raul Stars' victory sent them to the top of the Geolfa table with twelve points, being unbeaten after four opening league games, and having scored fourteen goals. Heaven Stars FC are currently number two on the log after playing four games with three wins, one defeat and breaking the net ten times.

The game kicked off well in the sweltering heat. Both teams were trying to play the ball on the ground with Young Brothers employing their physical strength against Raul Stars. The promising young side responded very well, scoring three beautiful quick goals within the first twenty minutes.

Lilitha Jantjies, a Grade 10 learner from Imizamo Yethu High School in Thembalethu, beat Young Brothers' backline to score the first goal of the game and make it 1-0. Young Brothers tried unsuccessfully to stop the speedy Raul Stars wingers, Siyabonga Aseni and Dwani Simamkele. Zukhanye Mkhefe had two quick scores from set pieces - a corner kick and a free kick on the right side of the field - to make it 3-0. Young Brothers' Vuyisa Ntulo scored their first goal to make it 3-1. This score remained unchanged by the end of the first half.

Paris United (photo) defeated Celtics 3-1 last weekend at the Thembalethu Stadium.

Despite the exhausting hot weather, the second half started on a high note with Raul Stars pushing for a fourth goal, but Jantjies' shot was well saved by Brothers' goalkeeper. Young Brothers received a penalty after a dangerous tackle by a Raul Stars defender inside the box. Mava Mooi scored this penalty to make it 3-2. Raul Stars came back in full force looking for more goals during the last ten minutes of the game but they failed to convert their chances and the Geolfa league encounter ended 3-2.

Speaking after the game, Raul Stars FC head coach, Nyameko Ntshingwa, said he knew that the game was going to be difficult for his lads because the Young Brothers players are tall and strong.

"Discipline on the field of play and the weather conditions nearly cost us this game," he said, "but we are not on the top of the table by mistake. As a team, we have been working hard to achieve our goals. We played in different tournaments with our main aim to build a strong team that can compete and fight for the top spot. We want to bring back the supporters to the field and to achieve this, we need to work as a team."

Raul Stars' No 5, Zukhanye Mkhefe (17) surprised everyone when he scored two goals from set pieces using his educated left foot. Mkhefe, a Grade 11 learner of Imizamo Yethu High School, played very well.

Paris United Punish Celtics

Paris United FC beat the struggling Celtics FC in a Geolfa (George Local Football Association) League match last weekend at Thembalethu Stadium. The score was 3-1.

The young players from Paris United are currently fighting to be in the top eight on the Geolfa table, while Celtics, at no 16, are in the last position in the relegation zone and desperately trying to retain their Geolfa status. Celtics scored first, but failed to defend their lead and the first half ended 1-0.