JOHANNESBURG Secondary School were crowned the McDonald's Under-14 League champions for the second time in a row after beating Reikemiseditse Intermediate in a closely contested final at Matlosana Stadium in Klerksdorp at the weekend.
The champions won 3-1 on penalties. The winners took home gold medals and R10000, while the runners-up got R5000.
The final had to be decided by a penalty shootout after the teams failed to score in regulation time.
Johannesburg dominated the proceedings, creating some inviting scoring chances, but their ability to convert let them down. They hit the crossbar in each half with the opposition keeper beaten.
"We played well to adapt to the windy conditions and I am happy we defended the title. The opposition did not threaten us because they defended throughout the game," a delighted Johannesburg coach Mandla Qhoyi said.
The Johannesburg warriors showed their mettle when they convincingly won their two group stage matches to finish top. They demolished the hosts, North West's Agisanang, 8-1 and Yesterberg of Limpopo 3-0 to book a place in the semifinal, where they beat KwaZulu-Natal's Skhethuxolo 2-0.
After a jittery start to the group stage, in which they held Luckhoff from Western Cape to a 1-all draw, Reikemiseditse narrowly beat Eastern Cape's Mzimvubu 1-0 to finish top on four points.
In the semifinal they easily overcame Northern Cape side Orion 3-0 to set up a gruelling final with the champions.
Reikemiseditse's coach Fana Motloung praised his boys, who contained the well-oiled Johannesburg.
Skhethuxolo saved face by beating Orion 4-2 to clinch the consolation third prize of R3000 in a competition that attracted about 3000 under-14 schools teams.
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