Young Natalians to be crowned

THE new National Futsal League champions, Young Natalians of Pietermaritzburg, will be officially crowned when the final round of fixtures is played this weekend.

Natalians, trained by interim national team assistant coach Gregory Nair, deposed defending champions eThekwini City at the top of the standings and secured the championship with a round to spare following a double victory at the weekend.

Two 5-1 victories, away to OBC Chicken and Tshwane City, coupled with neighbours Maritzburg Hotspurs’ defeat to OBC Chicken, lifted Natalians to the top of the seven-team league ladder.

Regardless of the outcome against derby rivals Hotspurs at the Pietermaritzburg YMCA on Friday, Natalians will be the new champions. Hotspurs take third place behind eThekwini City.

Former international player Nair has enjoyed a strong campaign, guiding his side to nine wins from 11 outings. Along the way, he was named national team assistant coach for a friendly four-nation tournament in Mauritius in March which South Africa won.

The programme at the YMCA will start at 6pm with a curtain raiser between two clubs from the regional league. The main attraction will kick off at 7.30pm. In Cape Town, the programme will start at 5pm with junior futsal games being played before the Cape derby.

Friday, 7.30pm: OBC Chicken v Tshwane City, Orlando; Maritzburg Hotspurs v Young Natalians, YMCA; Western Province Eagles v Cape Town Titans, Proteaville.