by Boipelo Boikhutso | Mar 18, 2015 | Sport
Nqobile Dludla and Boipelo Boikhutso
FROM ZEROS TO HEROS: Henrico Botes (on the floor) scored the ultimate final goal, sending The Clever Boys to the quarterfinal of the Nedbank Cup with 3 goals. Photo: Nqobile Dludla
Bidvest Wits are through to the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup after defeating University of Pretoria (AmaTuks), 3-0 at the Bidvest Stadium on Tuesday night.
The opening goal came from Dutchman Cornelis Kwakman in the 39th minute who landed a lead goal at the back of the net from a set-piece. Sibusiso Vilakazi came in the 56th minute and doubled their lead when he dribbled past Grant Kekana and shot past Washington Arubi.
Striker Henrico Botes added a goal in the 63rd minute after receiving a pass from Ben Motshwari.
Commenting on the first goal scored by Kwakman, Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt said “It broke the ice” for the game as both sides tried to break the deadlock in the opening minutes of the game.
“It was a hell of a goal wasn’t it? Jeez I mean he scored three goals and couple of weeks ago he scored one just like that. Fantastic goal!”, said Hunt.
Although The Clever Boys managed to break the deadlock, Hunt said the first half was “edgy” in terms of performance.
“We couldn’t get our passes and our movement and synchronization going. But we got much better in the second half as the game went on. We just lack a little bit of confidence, I guess after last week. All in all it was a great performance in the second half,” said Hunt.
Hunt hopes that his team maintains better “consistency” in the next games after suffering back-to-back Absa Premiership League defeats in recent games.
“I know the potential in the team. I mean from Tuesday to Tuesday we went from heros to zeros because we beat Sundowns and then we lost two games and then we won again,” added Hunt.
The opening proved to be difficult as both sides were determined to break the deadlock. The first chance for Bidvest Wits came after just 20 minutes when Sibusiso Vilakazi passed a promising shot to Papy Faty whose attempt went over the post.
AmaTuks tried to score straight after but Moeneeb Josephs was too quick for Geofrey Massa’s header.
The Clever Boys, who fielded the 16-year-old Liam Jordan last night, managed to hold on to their lead and secured themselves a place in the quarterfinals.
Post-match interview with AmaTuks coach Sammy Troughton
by Boipelo Boikhutso | Mar 17, 2015 | Featured 1
Christina takes time to pose for the camera as she reads.
Photo: Boipelo Boikhutso
Christina Mlambo is a partially blind student who is hard of hearing in her left ear. She refuses to be defined or confined by her disability. She recalls how in primary school, she was taught that “you are not going to get noticed because of your disability, but by how great you are”.
“To prove that greatness is possible to achieve even for an average person”
She matriculated last year, with four distinctions in Economics, Life Sciences, Business Studies and Afrikaans. In a series of two events, Mlambo was invited to attend a celebratory breakfast at Vodaworld, where she mingled with prominent people such as the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga. She was also invited to attend the matric awards ceremony, broadcast live on SABC, which she describes as one of the greatest moments in her life. Along with two other students from different schools, she was awarded a position in one of the Learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN) category, known as the“Against All Odds” category. Mlambo also obtained second position in the provincial awards. She also received a call from the MetroFm DJ, T’Bo Touch where he congratulated her on air and offered to help with finding a bursar.
Mlambo is currently doing her first year in BCom Law and when Wits Vuvuzela asked her how she’s coping in her new environment she said: “I won’t lie, it has been rather difficult, especially because there’s many of us [students] in a lecture so one cannot always get individual attention when in need.”
She said at her previous school, Prinshof School for the Visually Impaired there were 14 students in a class and the pace was slower. She regularly attends meetings at the Counselling and Careers Development Unit (CCDU) on campus which helps her with managing time and coping with school work.
In her school bag there is usually a law textbook, a recorder which she uses in class to capture lectures and a portable magnifier which she uses to enlarge course notes she cannot see properly. She said the Disability Unit is very supportive and provided her with the portable magnifier.
When she is not doing her school work, Mlambo reads novels and says her favourite author is Nora Roberts. She also plays the piano and occasionally writes poetry. She said she wants to be “a beacon of hope” in her family and community. “To prove that greatness is possible to achieve even for an average person ”.
