The First Team’s Bittersweet Victory

JVW travelled to Hatfield on Sunday, scheduled to play the University of Pretoria in their sixth match of the 2017 Sasol League. Kick off, however was slightly delayed and the match commenced just before 13:00. TUKS took full control of the game from the first whistle, and opened the score line in the 8^th minute after a defensive error, leaving JVW on the backfoot and having to fight hard to come back.

Pushing hard for their first goal of the encounter, the First team took a big knock in the early minutes after Fullback, Nzima, was tackled hard and brought down in the box. Nzima, commonly known as ‘Nana’, has succumbed to her second major injury in her playing career thus far, after suffering an ankle injury in 2015 against JVW whilst playing for Croesus Ladies.

Nana made a comeback in 2016, where she joined Bedfordview-based, JVW FC, and went on to win the Gauteng Title and finished along with her team, as Runners up at the Sasol National Championships. Whilst the medics were attending to Nana, the team gathered and they swiftly managed to relook at their tactics, to make sure that they were not leaving UP Sports Grounds without a win.

A yellow card was shown to the offender and a penalty given to the travelling team, but the TUKS Goalkeeper made use of her quick reflexes and pulled off a save to keep her team in the lead. An early substitution had to be made and Herz made her way onto the park, whilst the medics were working quickly to get Nzima off to the nearest hospital. JVW finally pulled one back in the 24^th minute after Defender, Irwin, tapped the ball into the back of the net after a slight scramble in the box from a set piece.

This gave JVW the boost they needed, helped them find their feet and they finally put their game plan to the test. Slowly taking the game away from the strong home team, JVW managed to take the lead before the half time break thanks to Albuquerque’s shot on goal following an immaculate through ball from the Captain, Nyandeni.

The second half proved to be of a physical and competitive temperament, and a decent sized crowd shouted their support from the sidelines. Nyandeni, Motlhalo and Salgado worked wonders in the middle of the park, keeping everyone entertained with their diski-style moves. The third goal of the match and a brace from Albuquerque, set the tone for the rest of the day.

Another set piece from the penalty spot was awarded to the Away team in the 66^th minute, after Motlhalo was brought down in the box denying her a goal-scoring opportunity. It was all eyes on JVW’s First Choice Goalkeeper, Yolula Tsawe, who stood up with the hopes of writing her name on the Score Sheet, and managed to do just that!

With the win secured and another three vital points added to their standing, JVW slowed the pace down for the final minutes after Joss secured the fifth and final goal for her team. Although the team walked away on a high with another victory under their belt, the realisation of Nzima’s traumatic injury in the first half finally set in, and it was with great shock and sadness that the team had to hear of the terrible news.

Nzima has been ruled out of the rest of the 2017 Sasol League, after fracturing her tibia and fibia in her left leg and is scheduled to have surgery on Monday afternoon.“This is devastating news for the team especially so early on in the Season. Nana is a key player in the first team and made a great impact in the 2016 Season. We had a scare with Nana at the National Champs, and were relieved when it wasn’t too serious. Now just five months later, we have to deal with more bad news… But it’s football, and we are sticking together as a family to ensure that Nana’s road to recovery is a smooth one, and that she can return to the field as soon as she has recovered. We would like to wish her everything of the best for her surgery today, and a speedy recovery.” – Lauren Duncan STARTING XI: Tsawe, Nzima, Irwin, Maponya, Ferreira, Joss, Bennett, Nyandeni, Motlhalo, Salgado, Albuquerque SUBS: Herz (in for Nzima), Sehoole (in for Bennett), Mabena (in for Albuquerque), Nohayi