MK ACADEMY Football Club, from the small township of Dongwe in Whittlesea, will represent the SAFA Chris Hani District in the Provincial SAB Nedbank Cup play-offs, which will be held in Mthatha on Saturday, after beating Indwe-based side FC Bhongweni 2-0 in the regional final on Sunday in Komani.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) in the Chris Hani District hosted the SAB Regional Nedbank Cup Play-offs on a windy Sunday at the Army Base Sport Fields.
The region has 24 teams competing in the SAB League this season that have a right to take part in the play-offs, although one of them failed to arrive.
MK’s road to the final went past Tsomo’s AmaKhuze Royals in the semi-final, where they won 1-0, while FC Bhongweni knocked out Komani’s Valgas FC 4-3 on penalties, after the game finished in a 1-1 draw.
In the final, MK scored both goals in the first half through Cebolethu Ngqeku and their experienced captain, Lwando Kota.
In all eight official games played this season, MK has not lost a single game; conceding only one goal through a penalty against Young Minds.
The club chairperson, Mandisi Dastile, has sung the praises of head coach, Bulelani Sindelo.
“I am very happy for the boys who qualified for the provincial finals in Mthatha. I am also happy for the coach; he became the first coach to lead this team when we reached the SAB Regional League a few years ago, and we still have him as a coach.
“It tells a lot about his work ethic and planning and it is a massive achievement. He is not only a coach to these players, but a father as well,” he said.
Teams from all eight districts in the province will face each other in Mthatha on Saturday and the winner will welcome ABC Motsepe Nedbank Cup Play-off winners, Amavarara FC, also from the SAFA Chris Hani District.
The winner of that final will represent the Eastern Cape Province in the last 32 of Nedbank Cup against teams from the GladAfrica Championship and ABSA Premiership.
