Posted in News on May 28, 2007.
Things started well enough for the young Chiefs team, who were in Hong Kong over the past weekend participating in the Hong Kong Sevens soccer tournament.
Donald “Ace” Khuse’s team defeated a Hong Kong select team 1-0 in their opening encounter with Amakhosi reserve team player Justice Pilusa scoring the only goal of the game. A draw in their next game against Happy Valley FC -- another Hong Kong team and a loss in their final group game to Glasgow Celtic ensured an early exit for Khuse and his team, who were expected to fare better than they did in 2006.
In the 2006 tournament Khuse’s team stole the headlines as they marched past the likes of Manchester United and Glasgow Celtic on their way to a third place finish but on Saturday the Scots exacted revenge for last years defeat as they got the only goal in what was a tight and fiercestly contested game. In the hot, wet and humid conditions of Hong Kong the young Chiefs team were unable to convert the numerous opportunities that they had created, and were left to rue their missed chances.
Amakhosi u-19 coach Khuse though has professed himself happy with his teams over all performance in Hong Kong adding; “we are disappointed not to have progressed past the group stages of the tournaments. That does not meant that we were by any means out of our depth, if you look at all our matches there was not much in terms of the results they were all closely contested games.
“Perhaps we could have won our second game but in football you some times need a lucky break and at times it felt as though we had used up all our luck last year. The boys can still hold their heads high as they were by no means out played, we will return next year looking to do better we have enjoyed the trip and the experience has been invaluable for the team.”
The Chiefs party that went to Hong Kong is expected to touch down at the O.R. Tambo airport in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning.
