Tammany take the crown
Three-goal blitz clinches Chatsworth’s Premier League title against Dimes United after nervous first-half showing, writes
TAMMANY Hotspurs football club was crowned Safa Chatsworth’s Premier League champions on Sunday.
After an anxious first-half showing, the Croftdene based Tammany side were transformed after the interval and eased their way to a 3-0 victory over opponents Dimes United.
A three-goal blitz in the space of 10 minutes completed Tammany’s triumph.
Tammany held a two-point advantage over second-placed Summerfield Dynamos, going into their title-clinching fixture, which was played at the Road 1016 sports field.
Anything less than a win for Tammany would have opened the door for the free-scoring Dynamo’s to claim the honour.
News had already filtered to the Road 1016 sports field that Dynamos had taken a 1-0 lead against Sunset Spurs in a match that was played at the Chatsworth Stadium.
Dynamos eventually cruised home to a 4-0 win in that encounter.
“We urged the players to give of their best during the interval, having already missed some good chances. And they responded,” said Tammany’s secretary, Prega Chetty.
Two of their most consistent players throughout the season took up the fight for Tammany.
Their burly and influential midfielder, Kwanale “Lafo” Ngubane, opened the scoring with a closerange strike. Sihle Ntuli, Tammany’s speedy striker who has netted on 26 occasions this season in all competitions, collected a cross played into Dimes’ danger area and rounded the keeper before scoring.
Ntuli and Ngubane combined well for Tammany’s third goal, with the latter applying the finishing touch.
“That was our fourth consecutive league title since we revived the club in 2015, said Chetty.
“We started in Division 3 and gained promotion each season. We weren’t eyeing the Premier League title at the start of the season, but having gone undefeated in the first round, we realised that we had it in us to go all the way,” said Chetty.
Dynamos secretary Vasu Pillay said they were disappointed to have missed out, especially after his team scored 51 goals this season.
He said there were a few players who stood out, and recognised left-back Melvin Pillay for his allround showing.
Pillay said their focus had since shifted to Sunday’s FA Cup, against the same opponents and at the same venue.
“We used Sunday’s game as an opportunity to get a feel for the pitch, but we’re expecting a tougher contest. Sunset used some of their lower league players in that game.”
Pillay said they would look to make amends for the league disappointment with cup success.