Pictures: Buntu Gotywa
Last year’s runners up, Portland High, and defending champions, Mondale, were the biggest winners, recording 3-0 wins against Spine Road and Woodlands respectively.
Portland’s goals came from Hayden Green, who scored a brace, and Marquez Williams, while Keagan Bailey, Cole Flint and Chad Willow found the back of the net for Mondale. Beacon Hill also collected three points after beating Strandfontein 2-0.
Westridge, Glendale, 2017 champions Cloetesville and Lentegeur managed narrow 1-0 wins against Rocklands, Oval North, Cedar and Tafelsig.
Goals came from Liam Nelson for Westridge, Aqeel Sampson forGlendale, Meeka-Eel Witbooi for Cloetesville and Luchen Moses for Lentegeur.
The matches between Princeton High and Aloe ended in a goalless draw.
The league, in its eight year, was launched in 2005. And, over the years, a number of players have come through the competition’s ranks to make a name for themselves, elsewhere.
The game between Westridge and Rocklands was one of the tightly-contested encounters of the weekend. Both sides went to the match with clear intentions. They matched each other in all departments but Westridge, in the end, emerged victorious.
Westridge coach, Ismail Gasnola admitted after the match that his side had to dig deep in order to come out with the desired results.
“It was a tough game as we came up against a good team that went there for the victory. We were, in the end, able to take the chance that came our way,” he said.
“We didn’t have a full strength squad as some players were with their clubs and we had to work with fewer players.
“We, for instance had two goalkeepers and one had to play on the field. But the players we selected did the job.”
Gasnola wouldn’t be drawn into descussing his side’s chances of winning the league.
“We are in a building phase, where we’re working with 16 talented players. Yes, we got the desired results against Rocklands but it is still a long way to go.
“All I can say is that we are going to challenge for the title come end of the season,” he said.