Limping Lindelani FC make history at the Sasol League National Championships

They delivered a resounding 3-0 defeat to the favourites Ramatlaohle in the semifinal held at Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein on Friday.

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The pivotal goals were netted by Nomfundu Xulu, Lungelo Msweli, and Mbalenhle Tenzall etching their victory in the annals of the competition’s history.

In their third attempt, the KZN squad clinched their coveted spot in the final and secured a berth in the upcoming Hollywoodbets Super League season.

Despite fielding an injury-affected team, Lindelani managed to surprise the Limpopo team and displayed an unwavering determination, persevering until the final whistle. Following their remarkable win, Lindelani’s coach, Nkosinathi Vilakazi, was visibly moved and struggled to find words to express his emotions.

"I can't express how I feel but it's for the kids. They fought very well. They played according to the plan. So, for me, I'm happy to have them because they are good listeners. So, since they can listen, some people will say they don't play good football but I know what I need,” Vilakazi said.

“When you play a tournament like this you can't be showcasing. I knew the opponent was showcasing most of the time. So, I had to press them hard, so that they couldn’t play. I had to press their defense so that they couldn’t start playing from the back. So, they did that, they pressed them. Their goalkeeper was closing too much to their defense."

Vilakazi delivered a tactical masterclass, outperforming his counterpart, Betty Maseko, on the Ramatlaohle bench. 

He confidently asserted that he had thoroughly analysed the opposition and anticipated their action on match day.

"I've watched the team playing and I saw their key players and I knew that they are good on the sides, so I had to bring experienced players so they couldn't cut me off. Then we tried to block them in the centre so they couldn't make any combinations, that was our strategy."