New year, new resolution for 4za, win.

Saturday 7th January 2023 first game of the season against the second placed team in the league, tied on points with us: Chiefs for a summit match.

After a difficult defeat at the end of 2022, the first of the season, O’Connor’s teammates were keen to get back to winning ways, and the team present was made for it. 4ZA lined up in a 4231: Jayson David Julian Gavin Aviv Jeremy Peter Youssef Hani Adil Boni Subs: Thomas, Ioannis

First and foremost, welcome to Hani and congratulations on his game, and BIG THANKS to Jayson for coming to help us out too.

The game could have been over after 10 minutes if Eyene had converted his two chances which went just wide and Youssef's shot which hit the crossbar. Chief, to everyone's surprise, managed to open the score after a foul (?) that was not whistled, the opposing striker did not tremble in front of the goal and this action was one of the only real dangerous actions of the opposing team. With this goal Chief's team regained confidence and defended better and better.

1-0 at half time the frustration was starting to show on the faces of all the players of 4za who as you know are fighting for the championship title at the end of the season.

The second half started completely different from the end of the first as the ball was moving faster and the midfielders were finding the strikers quite quickly who were causing problems for the Chiefs defenders. After a magnificent collective action, surely the most beautiful of the season, Youssef puts down a magnificent cross for Adil who controls and hits the ball at the near post for the equalizer.

Hani (once again congratulations for your game) had to leave his place to Ioannis in midfield and Youssef had to leave his place as well because of his yellow card for Thomas' entry. Despite the equalizer, the chances were getting fewer and fewer, and the opposing team was more and more united to avoid conceding the second goal, and even came close to taking the lead.

The action that leads to the second goal is said to be incredible (personally I vaguely remember the action right at the end when I'm on the ground in the box). The referee whistles a logical penalty and Eyene rushes in to give the advantage and score his 9th goal of the season.

Despite the lead, 4za continued to be scared at the end of the game. The worst was avoided when Eyene scored a beautiful shot from the edge of the box to make it 1-3 and secure the win and second place in the league. It was a strange game but one we had to win, and we did it together.

We must continue like this until the end.

Ster’s we are coming for you