CBS clinch trophies in Hopsol
In a stylish display of football on Friday, Collin Benjamin’s Soccer Talents (CBS) U/17 and U/19 teams delivered impressive performances at the Jan Möhr Football Field, with both sides lifting their respective trophies in the MTC Hopsol Youth League.
The CBS U/17 squad defeated Kasaona Football Academy 1-0, while the U/19 side edged Riverheights Football Academy by the same margin to successfully defend their title.
Head coach Arnold Subeb of CBS said both matches were the result of consistent performances throughout the tournament, though nerves affected the players’ execution.
The way we trained was not fully applied today, maybe anxiety crept in because it was a final. The winning mentality was there, but football is about movement and creating spaces. Riverheights exploited our midfield using their dynamic players, especially numbers three, four, five and 10. We addressed that at halftime, and things improved in the second half.
Although Subeb was not entirely satisfied with the overall performance, he expressed joy that both teams managed to lift their trophies once again.
Meanwhile, Riverheights Football Academy’s U/15 side have set up a semi-final clash against Sport Klub Windhoek (SKW) today to determine who advances to the final.
Last week, Riverheights drew 1-1 with Windhoek Gymnasium at the Jan Möhr Football Field. The match went to penalties, with Riverheights emerging 6-5 winners to secure their semi-final spot. Windhoek Gymnasium coach Ephraim Tjihonge said he was proud of his team’s progress, noting that it was the first time they had reached the semi-finals.
My opponents were better equipped, but we gave them a big fight. Penalties are a lottery: anyone can win, but credit to my boys for showing character. This year, all our teams have finished in the top eight, which shows our improvement. We are no longer an easy team to beat,
– Tjihonge said.
Winning coach Ronal Chari of Riverheights acknowledged that Gymnasium’s tactical setup caught them off guard.
We thought they would press us from the back, but they waited for us instead. Facing SKW will be a different challenge, they play from the back like us, which will suit our style better. I am not fully happy with our performance, but I expect us to create more opportunities in the next match,
– Chari explained.
Strauss Lunyangwe for New Era