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Vhutshilo Makhanya of Pull Together (front) hooks the ball, while Edwin Maphangwa of Cobra Stars pulls him back.    

Pull Together refuse to die

 

Lwamondo Pull Together have reason to rejoice. They played a full game with one man down and still managed to go back home with a point in hand.

They shared the spoils with Cobra All Stars when they played to a goalless draw in their MMK Administrators League match at the Tshisaulu Mmbengeni Kone grounds on Sunday.

Pull Together did not have enough U/21 players for the game. In terms of the league’s rules and regulations, a team must have at least five U/21 players on the field of play throughout the game.

Realizing that it would be difficult for them to match their opponents pound for pound, Pull Together packed themselves at the back and relied on counter-attacks.

The pattern worked for them as they managed to defend and attack as a team, making it difficult for the Stars to know whom to mark and when to mark.

Cobra Stars had their chances as the game progressed, but Phathutshedzo Manavhela, the Pull Together keeper, was there to ensure that his side had something to show when they went back home. He was a marvel to watch towards the end of the first half.

He did the unexpected in the 29th minute when he stretched to the limit to execute a brilliant save. This after Thembuluwo Mabula, the Stars’ dribbling wizard, beat two defenders in a row and tried his luck with a half volley from the edge of the box. Mabula braved the shot and hit the ball away with a fist for a corner kick.  

Pull Together squandered two obvious scoring chances after effecting three changes to their starting line-up. Their playmaker, Dakalo Matombo, who came on as a substitute for Vhutshilo Makhanya, went loose from the right corner and shot astray from close range.

Pull Together did not move an inch on the log standings. They are still lying in the ninth spot.

Sport - Date: 31 January 2019

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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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