Tornado fate in hands of the gods
Mdantsane outfit suffered another playoff setback
EAST London’s National First Division hopefuls Tornado will be praying for divine intervention as qualification to the second highest level of South African football is firmly out of their hands after they suffered a 2-2 draw against the Dolphins in Polokwane yesterday.
They need the next game between group rivals the Dolphins and Buya Msuthu to end in a scoreless draw at Turfloop University Fields in Polokwane today, if they are to stay in the running as any other result will knock them out of contention.
This after the Mdantsane-based outfit drew both their matches so far, including yesterday’s game against the Dolphins and Monday’s 0-0 draw against Buya Msuthu, meaning they now have just two points to their name.
“We had our chances to score and the opposition also got opportunities to score, that’s why the game ended a 2-2 draw,” Tornado team manager Simphiwe Magongo told the Dispatch after the game.
“Both sides were going toe-to-toe and from our side we did everything we could to win the game, but it wasn’t meant to be.
“Because the boys played their hearts out hence I’m saying we really cannot fault any of them.”
Magongo said the well-taken goals by Vuyisile Wana and Sihle Waso weren’t enough to pull them through the group stages, and now they have play a waiting game this morning when Dolphins face Buya Msuthu.
“Football decided the result, and remember that this is a sport that goes with mistakes as well, although there weren’t many errors that we committed during the game.
“So now we are just going to wait for the next game in our group, because in our group we are still leading the pack with a point, but the other teams have a game in hand.
“So everything will be decided today (Wednesday) and we are praying and hoping that the final score in the game against Buya Msuthu and Dolphins will end a 0-0 draw.”
Magongo said, according to the rules of the tournament, should the scenario they were hoping for [nil-all draw in the last fixture in the group] becomes a reality they might have another chance.
“If we get what we hoping for, the rules say we will play Dolphins on Thursday in a match that would be the decider of the group.
“So we just have to hold thumbs for that draw because the boys really gave it their best shot in the two games.
“And they are disappointed by the two draws, but then they also know that we can’t lose hope because we are still in the game.”
Tornado club chairman, Simphiwo “Mawawa” Nyobo took his hat off for his players and said his team proved that winning fluke.
“They played very well in both games despite the results and they showed that they won the league on merit. So today we are just going to wait for the result, because we are the league was no still leading with one point in the group, but then our disadvantage is that we are done with our games.
“But should the other teams draw 0-0, we will keep our leading position in the log-standings.”
Nyobo said the tournament was
by far the toughest one they had contested in the clubs history.
“All the clubs are of highest standard and they are really prepared for the games,” said Nyobo. But it will all be in the hands of the soccer gods for them to pull through.