Brilliant Boksburg miss out on league title
In the end, Sporting collected 49 points from their allotted 20 games.
As the campaign which can be described as ‘one helluva season’ for the Boksburg Football Club’s u-17 side draws to an end, it’s ultimately and unfortunately for the club ended up as a case of so close, but yet so far.
Following their impressive midweek 4-1 win against table-topping rivals Sporting at the Boksburg City Stadium on September 12, the Blues moved within seven points from the log leaders after jumping to second spot with 42 points after 18 encounters.
However, it proved to be a victory in vain because it meant that even if the Blues went on to win their remaining two games in hand, their first one having been played at the same venue on the evening of September 19 against Luso Africa, they would still fall short by a single point off Sporting, whose last game was the 4-1 thumping at the hands of Boksburg.
The table-toppers, Sporting , however, have not won the title, at least as yet. Third-placed Rovers sit on 41 points after 17 encounters, their next encounter is tonight (September 24) against Boksburg at the Boksburg City Stadium, which will be Boksburg’s last game of the campaign.
Should Rovers win all of their remaining games, including tonight’s one against the Blues, they will be crowned champions by a single point.
In other words, Sporting are desperately banking on the Blues to prevent Rovers from collecting maximum points: if Rovers lose or even draw, Sporting will be crowned champions.
It goes back to the old cliché in sports that if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best, and Rovers have their work cut out with Boksburg also fighting to finish second.
The Blues’ tie with Sporting went into the half-time break with the hosts holding a slender 1-0 lead before they pulled away in the latter stanza. Zanda Linda scored a brace and was joined by Mthokozisi Mkhatshwa and Bandile Mazibuko on the scoring front.
