Pirates Academy started off the second round of the Ndlambe Local Football Association (NLFA) league competition in convincing fashion by thumping Tokyo City 4-1 at Mamityi Gidana stadium on Sunday.
The Pirates team, though made up of players 17 years and under, played like a seasoned unit, banging in three goals in the second half after the teams were deadlocked 1-1 at halftime.
It’s the first season the youngsters are playing in the NLFA.
Pirates coach, Melikhaya Ngesi, said throwing the youngsters in to the cauldron was part of their club strategy. “We are preparing our players as part of a succession plan, because when our senior players (SAB League) retire they can slot in; there is no concern as the youngsters are doing very well in this league among the ‘big boys’.”
In sunny conditions after the previous night’s rain, the teams were full of running, with wasted chances and final passes slipping through in both 16-yard areas a constant early on.
Pirates with their good passing game in a congested midfield and, diminutive forwards Simamkele Gemenge and Okuhle Qontso proving a menace with their energetic and elusive running, held early advantage in the possession stakes.
It came as no surprise when in the 20th minute Pirates finally made their dominance count by scoring through midfielder, Amyoli Nela.
Then as sometimes is the norm in any sport, Pirates seemed to take the foot ever so slightly off the pedal just as City started to find their rhythm, and made the odd play into the opposing box.
City’s attacking midfielder, Iviwe Tembani, tried to make various forays into Pirates’ 16-yard area but to no avail. Tembani then switched to a more dominant attacking role which seemed to give his team a bit more thrust.
Ten minutes after Pirates’ success, the ball fell to, City’s pint-sized forward, Lindokuhle Kalashe, who allowed the bouncing ball to drop before unleashing a powerful left-foot volley beyond the Pirates keeper waist-high into the net.
City’s vice-captain, Phila Quma, was a stone pillar in defence in the sweeper position. His constant talking to his players and his willingness to engineer attacks from the back while thwarting the onrushing Pirates strikers, Gemenge and Qontso, kept City in the hunt.
Several opportunities were wasted by both teams in front of goal, with either a final pass going astray or the ball being passed in error to the opposition. The energetic Pirates’ youngsters had time for the spectacular too, when Qontso turned his back on a bouncing ball to unleash a spectacular bicycle kick with the ball sailing only centimetres over the crossbar.
Coaches from both sides were left frustrated with players’ decision-making and passes not going according to plan with the ball often landing at an opposing players feet in the box. However, it must be said, a rather bumpy and rugged Mamityi Gidani surface did not make for an effective passing game
Once the referee signalled the start of the second half, both teams seemed to have come out refreshed after a much-needed break, playing with high intensity in the early stages.
Both teams played with a sense of urgency as if their lives depended on it, which made for an entertaining spectacle. But it was Pirates who seemed to have the more cut-and-thrust with Gemenge, Qontso and Nela proving a headache for the City defence.
The Pirates youngsters seemed to have the more running in their legs too, with City despite their efforts from midfield with Paul Marais prominent, not getting enough through balls to their forwards.
Therefore, it came as no surprise when some good inter-passing among the Pirates players saw Qontso putting the ball beyond City keeper, Luwazi Plaatje, for a 2-1 lead.
With Pirates dominant in most aspects of play it came as no surprise when Nela received the ball in the area with the keeper out of position, and had an easy tap in to the net.
Now 3-1 up, the youngsters were all over their rivals, threatening to put the game beyond them.
In the 83rd minute Gemenge had the ball at his feet after a goalmouth scramble and with only the keeper to beat from right in front, hit the upright instead – and by a stroke of luck, the ball bounced pack into his path and hit a sweetly time shot into the far side of the net.
His teammates rushed to celebrate with Gemenge who was lying on the ground, who had turned misfortune into a spectacular ending for a 4-1 victory.
Coach Ngesi said they played well after drawing their previous match against Challengers 2-2.
“Today we are happy because we managed to get three points … we are preparing these youngsters for the SAB League as part of a succession plan. The more they get exposed here the better for them.
“We are 33 players in our group, so the future looks good … sponsorship is a problem but the A team (SAB league) do help us out.
He said the youngsters still have to learn about making better decisions-making on the field of play. “…. there is still a lot to learn but I am happy.”
Other Results:
Saturday:
Challengers 2 v Pirates Academy 2
XI Masters 12 v Mighty Academy 1
City XI 3 v Young Ideas 1
Young Chiefs 0 v NSP 3
Paubs 4 v Majagga 1
Sunday:
XI Masters 18 v Young Ideas 1
NSP 4 v Majagga 1
Arrows 6 v Young Chiefs 1
Paubs 0 v Challengers 1
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This article was first published in Talk of the Town, July 10, 2025. The newspaper serving the communities of Ndlambe and the Sunshine Coast, with a weekly wrap of Makhanda news, is available at stores from early on Thursdays.
