UP-Tuks young football stars hungry to bring back the "silverware"

The coaches of the UP-Tuks Football Academy are certainly doing something right as two of their teams will be contesting finals tomorrow.

The UP-Tuks under-15 team is facing off at 10:30 against Mintlangu/Blue Stars while the UP-Tuks under-17 team will be challenged by Glenwegians/PHSOB in their final at 12:00. Both games are played at Tuks.

Kabelo Mokoena is confident that both UP-Tuks teams will win.

“They played brilliantly throughout the league. However, the players should realise that no final is ever won before the final whistle has blown. It is going to be a case of keeping their eyes on the ball for one last time.”

According to him Boitimelo Magano and Iago Do Na Nascimento are the two players to watch out for during the under-15-final while Thando Ndlangamadla and Siya Nkosi made things happen every time the under-17 team took to the field.

Last weekend the UP-Tuks under-13 team was beaten 2-1 by the Centurion Blues in their semi-final game. They still, however, won the league having lost only one of their pool games.

Mpilo Ngcoza, who coaches the under-13 team, was disappointed by the semi-final result.

“During the league, we have beaten Centurion Blues on three occasions but the one game that really mattered the players did not pitch up. We made some elementary mistakes during the first half, and that cost us as we conceded two goals. In the second half, the players were more focussed that led to us getting one goal back but it was a case of too little too late.

“I guess that is football. You get days on the field where things just don’t go your way. I am confident that the players will come back from this defeat emotionally stronger and more motivated.”

Ngcoza said that Mario Nascimento was the player who impressed him the most throughout the tournament.

The youngster is not sure but thinks he has scored seven to eight goals during the tournament. His biggest regret is not being able to help his team win when it really mattered.