Victoria Park in command at Charity Cup
High school’s boys and girls dominate all divisions
VICTORIA Park High School dominated all three divisions of the NMMU 15th Charity Cup soccer tournament at the weekend. Under-16 boys and girls as well as U19s from various schools in Nelson Mandela Bay competed in the annual charity event on Saturday.
In an U19 girls encounter, Victoria Park High proved too strong for a spirited Linkside team.
Two goals, without reply, from the tournament’s top goal scorer, Tiffany Korkie, sealed the victory for Victoria Park for the second consecutive year.
VP also earned a well-deserved victory over old foes Chapman to clinch the U16 boys title in a tense game that had to be settled by penalty kicks.
Victoria Park goalkeeper Sakhumzi Silara was the hero, making two brilliant saves to deny Chapman and give his team the bragging rights.
In the final match, Arcadia High’s U19 boys also came up against Victoria Park. Both teams had an impressive campaign, brushing aside all competitors in the round robin stages.
On their way to the finals, Arcadia High beat five of their competitors.
In the final, Arcadia were 1-0 up after five minutes, with an excellent goal by centre back Lester Haaroff.
In the second half, VP changed to a 3-4-3 strategy – and it almost immediately proved to be a winner when striker Sinalo Gantsho was brought down in the penalty area.
Keegan Assam, the top U19 boys goal scorer at the event, stepped up and equalised from the penalty spot.
Athini Komani, one of the best players of the tournament, dribbled past two defenders before passing to midfielder Thabo Mbem, who missed the target with an open goal in sight.
The tenacious player, however, made amends two minutes later when he stole into the Arcadia box with some fancy footwork.
A second penalty kick was awarded when a dangerous tackle brought Mbem down inside the area.
Assam was again at hand to convert, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way, to hand Victoria Park a 2-1 win.
The R5 000 raised from the NMMU schools’ tournament will be presented to the Isithembiso Babies Home in Walmer.