Four finals at Gelvandale
Exciting action on cards as Mayoral Cup event wraps up
THE Gelvandale sports fields will be a hive of activity tomorrow with the Safa-NMB Mayoral Cup finals in four divisions. The proceedings get under way at 10am with the boys’ U13 final between Stinging Bees and Hotspurs.
This will be followed by the women’s final between Dower United and Highbury.
Both teams finished at the top of the A and B streams of the last Safa-NMB Women’s League.
The third final is between Power Lads and Glenville in the U15 division.
The senior final between Callies and Real Aces brings the curtain down on the competition. Callies reached the finals in 2010 and 2015 and, on both occasions, went on to win the cup.
In the semifinals on Sunday, they beat Camper United 3-2 on penalties after being level at 2-2 at the end of normal time.
In the quarterfinals, Callies also won 3-2 on penalties, beating Real Madrid after being 1-1 at full time.
On their way to the finals, Aces beat Nubs 6-5 on penalties and Eleven Wizards 2-0.
Safa-NMB marketing and sponsorship head Mandisi Fina said if the preliminary matches last weekend were anything to go by, fans should be in for a treat.
“Most of the matches were keenly contested with many only decided on penalties”, Fina said. “We invite all our partners, potential sponsors and soccer lovers in the metro to come in their numbers to witness what should be a spectacle.”
The gates open at 8am and the programme is: 10am: Stinging Bees v Hotspurs; 11.15am: Dower United v Highbury; 12.30pm: Power Lads v Glenville; 1.45pm: Real Aces v Callies; 3pm: Presentation
HEARTS have an excellent chance of going into the Christmas recess at the top of the Safa-NMB SAB League soccer log when they play Amarhamba United in the final round of matches.
All the teams will be in action after a break for the Mayoral Cup last week.
In their last match, Hearts beat log-leaders Morning Stars 2-1 to join them at the top of the standings. Hearts have a match in hand.
With Stars not in action this weekend, maximum points would see Hearts become the outright log leaders.
“We are determined to end the year on a high,” Hearts assistant coach Munchy Margon said.
“The youngsters we introduced into the team have not let us down so far. If we can reproduce last week’s performance [against Morning Stars] we should be in business”.
Meanwhile, Stars will be playing Young Ideas at the Zwide Stadium.
After a thrilling start to the season, Ideas have faded, suffering two defeats.
Should Stars and Hearts slip up, Major Chiefs and Young Killers are waiting in the wings to become the new log leaders. Both are a point behind, in joint-second place.
Killers host Despatch Pioneers at the Jabavu Stadium this evening, while Sundowns play Camper United at the Chevrolet Stadium. Both will expect to win their respective matches.
The fixtures are: Tonight: Young Killers v Despatch Pioneers (Jabavu Stadium), Amarhamba v Hearts (Jubilee field), NMU Madibaz v Mabayibone Strikers (south campus) Tomorrow: Golden Aces v Roaring Tigers (Zwide Stadium), Highland Spurs v FC Winners (Jabavu Stadium), Major Chiefs v Ikamva Movers (Zwide Stadium), PE Sundowns v Camper United (Chevrolet Stadium), Morning Stars v Young Ideas (Zwide Stadium), Fairview Rovers v Motherwell Academy (Saints, Gelvandale) Sunday: Ikamva Movers v Roaring Tigers (NU2 Stadium)