Birds hold Rockers to a draw

In their MMK Administrators Soccer League match at the Manini Phangami grounds on Sunday, Dobby Freedom Birds held one of the league title chasers, Rockers FC, to a goalless draw.

The game started 15 minutes later than the scheduled 15:00 kickoff time. At that stage, the teams’ officials were arguing over the registration of some of the players, whom they alleged were not properly registered.

Although Freedom Birds are one of the relegation candidates, they managed to match the visitors from Makwarela pound for pound in all departments. Realizing that the home side were unstoppable, Rockers started to demonstrate their rough skills as one of their many ways to neutralize them. That prompted the referee to flash two yellow cards within a short space of time.

Daniel Chauke was the first player to go into the referee’s book. He tackled Gudani Munyamela the rough way in the 14^th minute, and the referee was quick to produce yellow. Phathutshedzo Nemukula obstructed Hulisani Maphosa three minutes later, and he was lucky not to see red.

Although Freedom Birds lost their fighting spirit towards the end of the first half, their overlapping midfielder, Khuthadzo Munyai, remained a live wire. He was everywhere, creating some promising moves from the middle of the park, while at the same time playing as a full striker.

Rockers used all their substitution chances in the opening minutes of the last half. They replaced Phathutshedzo Nemutamvuni, Vhugala Singo and Mulaifa Tshabuse with Thovhedzo Netshivhambe, Mpho Mogale and Andani Ndou respectively.

Rockers squandered a clear scoring chance in the 78^th minute. Unarine Kudzingana received a neat pass from Ntsieni Nengovhela and shot wide from close range. Ntsieni Nengovhela of Rockers was the last player to be reprimanded with a card. He obstructed Gudani Munyamela just outside the box.   

Sport - Date: 17 May 2018

Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990.  He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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