Umoya decision an epic fail
EMBARRASSING: DE SA’S MEN CRASH TO HEAVY DEFEAT ON RUGBY FIELD
Roger de Sa’s Cape Umoya United side were left to rue taking their match to a venue that suited their opponents as Witbank Spurs hammered them 4-1 at Boland Stadium – a rugby venue in Wellington.
The new National First Division (NFD) side have decided on the ground as their venue for the season and were hoping for a good debut against a struggling Siyavutha, whose coach Rahman Gumbo was recently fired, the club replacing him with the experienced Sammy Troughton.
“We’ve finally found a place to call home this season. It’s Boland Stadium! Happy days! Our first game will be this Sunday against Witbank Spurs,” Umoya had announced on their Twitter feed last week.
But 35 minutes into the match and trailing 1-0, the team formerly known as Platinum Stars were feeling the heat and perhaps regretting taking the game to a rugby stadium as Spurs’ home venue is the Puma Rugby Stadium in Witbank and the temperatures were favourable to the visitors at around 30°C.
Spurs scored three more through Quentin Debouto, Mahlatse Mhlambine, Khethukuthula Zwane and Joshua Sauls. Nathan Paulse hit a consolation for the home side.
“Witbank Spurs showed that they are used to hot and dry 30°C and a rugby pitch,” tweeted Umoya at the end of the match.
Troughton was left both surprised and satisfied as it was his first match in charge. He said the way his players quickly adapted to his methods was unbelievable.
“We suffered five defeats and desperate times called for desperate measures – I changed the whole defence and worked on a different system. What a performance, we were smart, weathered the storm at times and were worth the win,” he said.
Collins Mbesuma’s two goals, were meanwhile not enough to save Maccabi from becoming victims of a rejuvenated Real Kings at Dobsonville Stadium where they lost 4-2. Thobani Kunene scored twice while Lindokuhle Mtshali and Mmiseni Ndlovu also contributed a goal each for Simo Dladla’s side.