The Glad Africa Championship kicked off this past weekend, with six matches played between Friday and Sunday.
With the games played behind-closed-doors, and none televised, and no other media allowed access to games in South Africa yet, supporters and journalists had to rely on social media updates for information on the games, and that came with mixed results.
Friday 27 November
Cape Town Spurs 1-1 Polokwane City
Riyaad Norodien scored on debut for Spurs (formerly Ajax) on his return to the club, but Mpho Mvelase equalised for Polokwane within a minute of Norodien’s strike in a one-all draw
Cape Town All Stars 1-1 JDR Stars
Temptation Chiwunga scored a penalty to give the visitors the lead, but Lucky Setelele was on hand with an equaliser for the home team.
Saturday 28 November
Sekhukhune United 4-0 Royal AM
Johnny Ferreira’s Sekhukhune had a fantastic second half to mark their debut as a club as former Jomo Cosmos striker Chibuike Ohizu scored a brace, while Katlego Cwinyane and Thulani Ndledla also netted.
Royal AM coach Mike Lukhubeni was reportedly suspended by the club after the game, and could be the first casualty in the league this season.
Free State Stars 0-1 Uthongathi
Meanwhile Ferreira’s former team Uthongathi won at Goble Park thanks to a goal from former Orlando Pirates player Issa Sarr.
TS Sporting 2-3 Cape United
Edson Khumalo, Roscoe Pietersen (penalty) and Sekela Sithole scored for Cape United as they beat TS Sporting. Sporting had Khotso Malope and Percy Nkabinde (penalty) on the score sheet.
Sunday 29 November
AmaTuks 1-0 Richards Bay
Tebogo Mohlamonyane scored early and it proved to be the winner for Tuks against Richards Bay in the only game on Sunday.
Fixtures resume this week, and it will be a chance for Steenberg United and Jomo Cosmos to play their first games of the season.
This is the midweek schedule:
Tuesday 1 December
Royal AM v Cape Town Spurs
Steenberg United v TS Sporting
Jomo Cosmos v Sekhukhune United
Wednesday 2 December
Richards Bay v Cape Town All Stars
Cape United v Free State Stars
JDR Stars v AmaTuks
Newly promoted Bizana Pondo Chiefs and Pretoria Callies will only begin their campaigns on the 5th and 6th of December respectively.
