Maties Football Club (FC) promotional team recently beat Ida’s Valley Athletics Football Club (AFC) 2-0 in a play-off final.
SMF News was in attendance at Jamestown Stadium on 10 May, when the Stellenbosch Local Football Association (SLFA) Promotional League play-off final took place.
“This is big for us; this is big for the university, big for Maties Football,” said Boebie Solomons, head coach of Maties FC promotional team. “We are trying to get our brand on the map. [This win] is important for the brand, so we can show the rest of the country that we don’t only play rugby here in Stellenbosch.”
Ida’s Valley Athletics Football Club (AFC) and Maties Football Club (FC) promotional team lining up before the Stellenbosch Local Football Association (SLFA) Promotional League play-off final at Jamestown Stadium in Stellenbosch. Before the final, both teams were undefeated throughout the season, according to the Stellenbosch Local Football Association Facebook page. PHOTO: Jared Moorgas
The Promotional League is the division in the local football association before the South African Football Association (SAFA) Cape Winelands Men’s Regional League (MRL).
This is according to Jean-Pierre Adams, SLFA media spokesperson, and Ida’s Valley team manager.
Maties FC will play in the MRL playoffs, hosted in Langeberg in June, along with winners from four other local football associations, said Adams. Only two teams from the play-offs will be promoted to the MRL, he said.
Maties FC on the front foot
Maties FC started the first half of the match aggressively, with much of the attacking play coming from the wing on the right flank.
The opening five minutes were tense, with Ida’s Valley AFC holding the defensive line, which Maties FC failed to crack open.
“The beginning was very tough, very cagey. Both teams wanted it,” said Qhama Dolonga, Maties FC’s left-back and captain of the promotional team. “Ida’s Valley came with the long balls and were very physical.”
Tyrece Claasen (front), midfielder for Ida’s Valley Athletic Football Club (AFC), squaring up against Qhama Dolonga (back), Maties Football Club (FC) left-back and captain for the promotional team, during the Stellenbosch Local Football Association (SLFA) Promotional League play-off final. SMF News was in attendance at Jamestown Stadium on 10 May. “[The] second half was a much better performance from our side,” said Dolonga. “We put the ball behind and we made a couple [of] subs that made a difference.” PHOTO: Jared Moorgas
After being on the defensive, Ida’s Valley AFC grew in confidence, with a misplaced header over the bar in the early minutes of the first half.
The second half saw Maties FC score first, as striker Cameron Pretorius skipped past the full-back and eventually slotted the ball around the keeper, making it 1-0.
The second goal came from an interception in the midfield, with Pretorius scoring again, securing the win for Maties FC.
Denver Loggenberg, midfielder for Ida’s Valley Athletic Football Club (AFC), taking a free kick in Ida’s Valley AFC’s play-off final against Maties Football Club (FC) in the Stellenbosch Local Football Association (SLFA) Promotional League.“We had a lot of our youngsters and our local youth,” said Adrian Barros, head coach of Ida’s Valley AFC.“To see some of their role models showcase themselves on the field was great for the community.” PHOTO: Jared Moorgas
“Each team came out and played well,” said Charlton Hendricks, captain and centre-back for Ida’s Valley AFC. “It was a game where the first team that scores is going to win the game.”
Adrian Barros, head coach of Ida’s Valley AFC, said the loss is a learning curve for his team.
“We’ll continue to work and continue to get the youth to our football grounds and expose them to these types of games going forward,” said Barros.