7 June 2023
The Westville and Glenwood 1st football teams met in the semi-finals of the KZN High School Football Association’s second term coastal competition on Wednesday afternoon at Chiltern Park, with a tight contest eventually being decided in favour of the Durban school from the penalty spot.
Westville enjoyed slightly the better of the game, playing more of it in Glenwood’s territory and managing a number of shots on goal. Glenwood, though, were well organised in defence and prevented the Griffins from playing through the middle. All of their attacks were kept out wide.
Interesting twist
As a result of the stalemate, the match went to spot kicks. In an interesting twist, Glenwood changed their goalkeeper just before the final whistle, which meant Sanele Mthembu could take charge between the posts for the penalties.
The shootout began with both goalkeepers making stops. Glenwood captain Makhoba was smartly rejected by Westville goalie, Lucas Friedrich, who got down low to his left to get both gloves on the ball. Dlamini, of Westville, then, had his shot saved. It was way too close to Mthembu in the Glenwood goal, and it left the teams tied at 0-0.
Both teams were successful with their following three attempts. Then, it was the turn of the goalie Sanele Mthembu to take Glenwood’s fifth spot kick. Cool as a cucumber, he beat Friedrich with a well-placed chip.
Thabiso Matlala, with the last penalty for Westville, placed his kick high and wide of the right of the goal, leaving Glenwood to celebrate a 4-3 victory from the penalty spot.
Coach’s take
Afterwards, Glenwood coach Khaya Ngwengwe told Pinnacle Schools: “It was a tough game. We always knew it was going to be tough. We stuck to our plans. We knew where they are dangerous and we made sure we shut that down today. That’s what I am most proud of.”
Ngwengwe said his team hadn’t had an opportunity to practice executing their gameplan in the lead-up to the match, so he was thrilled by the manner in which they managed to get it right. “I can’t ask for more,” he reckoned.
“With our side, we knew where we were lacking today. Our big emphasis was to not allow them space, and not to give them space behind us. We wanted to keep them in front of us, and that is exactly what we did.”
Ngengwe also praised Westville for their performance, saying: “We struggled to get forward quite a lot, because I don’t think we had a shot on goal the whole game (there was one), but that’s the nature of the game. Now, we have to go and work on preparing for the final in a week’s time.”
He said the Griffins had often had the better of the results against Glenwood in the past, so it was nice to get one over them, even if it was from the penalty spot.
“They’re a good side, with good players, and they’re quite young, so they have a bright future,” he concluded.
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