Helenvale United FC win numerous accolades in NAFA leagues
ALMOST all teams of Helenvale United FC collected silverware in the Northern Areas Football Association (NAFA) leagues during the 2024 season.
It is clear that Helenvale FC’s effective management is essential for the club’s success throughout the NAFA 2024 season.
Furthermore, their strong leadership played a significant role in inspiring and motivating their teams.
The Helenvale supporters and the community, who always come in droves to support their teams when they play, even during bad weather conditions, helped boost the morale of their players.
Helenvale’s u/9 technical staff, including Rosslyn Adonis (manager), Ferdi Hobanie, Vincent Pentolfe, and Shane Cloete (all coaches), helped their side to be runners-up in the Fairview Rovers FC Tour, NAFA Yellow League Presidents Cup winners, and NAFA Top 8 winners.
Credit should go to Helenvale’s u/11 technical staff, Rodney George (manager), Collin Persensie, Preston Van Sensie, and Da-Novin Tem (all coaches), as their side were NAFA Easter Tournament runners-up, NAFA Top 8 winners, and Glenville Celtic Tournament winners.
Helenvale u/13 were NAFA Build It runners-up. Their coaches Ricardo Abdul, Michael Peters, and Jason Williams also contributed tremendously to uplifting their team’s standards.
The NAFA Inaugural Godfrey De Kock trophy was lifted by the Helenvale u/15 team, thanks to the hard work of coaches Wayne Fillis and Duwayne Plaatjies.
Neil Plaatjies (team manager), Conrad Charles, Dimarco Booysen (both coaches), and Jason Williams (assistant coach) guided their u/17 team to win six trophies: the NAFA League Knockout, NAFA Easter Tournament, Stardrift Tournament, Fairview Rovers Tournament, Glenville Tournament, NAFA Inaugural Godfrey De Kock Tournament, and they finished as the third-placed side in the NAFA League.
The Helenvale u/19 team lifted two trophies this season after winning the NAFA League and NAFA Knockout Tournament. Coach Donavan Coetzee helped his team improve significantly this season.
The ladies’ soccer team was one of the best sides because of the dedication from coaches Waylin Jenneker and Denise Petrus. Coach Michael Peters guided the Helenvale reserve team to finish in third place in the NAFA First Reserve League.
The Maroon Army technical staff trio, Leanard Carelse (manager), Lee Meyer (coach), and Mark De Kock (goalkeeper), deserve mention for their excellent management as the senior team performed excellently.
Helenvale’s senior team were third-place finishers in four NAFA competitions: the League, Knockout, Easter Tournament, and Stream A league.
Helenvale are NAFA Top 8 runners-up and the current NAFA Valentine Cup and Mala Moodley Knockout Cup champions.
Highbury FC win their away game
NELSON Mandela Bay Highbury FC managed to secure a hard-fought 2–1 away victory over Venda FC during the Motsepe Foundation Championship clash that took place in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, on Saturday.
The home side, who are at the bottom of the league table, approached the game determined to win.
However, Venda FC’s performance speaks for itself, as they have only won three games and drawn twice since the league started. Playing in front of a fully packed stadium, Venda FC had a bright start to the game.
The home team supporters were overjoyed when their left-back, D’Angelo Kazeem, scored the opener in the 10th minute, with Highbury FC’s goalkeeper, Simfumene Lamati, well beaten.
The visitors’ skipper, Lulama Maqoko, and his defenders kept things tight at the back. The Limpopo boys, who looked comfortable playing in the scorching sunny weather, launched attack after attack.
Nonetheless, Highbury FC vowed not to succumb to the struggling side. Tshepo Cetywayo silenced the supporters of Venda FC when he scored Highbury FC’s opening goal against goalkeeper Samkelo Mbambo in the 22nd minute.
Highbury FC kept the home side at bay as they searched for their second goal. At times, Venda FC seemed as if they might score, but Highbury read them well.
The long-awaited goal for the Gqeberha side came courtesy of their striker, Thokozani Ngubane, in the 81st minute. Highbury FC deservedly claimed their hard-fought 2–1 away win.
Other results of Motsepe Championship:
Casric Stars 2–2 Kruger United
Milford FC 1–2 Durban City
Orbit College 0–0 JDR Stars
University of Pretoria 1–0 Leruma United
Hungry Lions 1–1 Upington City
Pretoria Callies 2–1 Cape Town Spurs
Baroka 4–2 Black Leopards
