Kaizer Chiefs will face Bidvest Wits in the final of the SAFA U17 Championships tournament that is taking place at the Nike Football Training Centre in Pimville, Soweto. 

Chiefs were the first to book their place in the final with a 1-0 victory in a tightly-contested semifinal against KwaZulu Natal on Friday, 4 April. KZN proved a hard nut to crack but Chiefs were rewarded for their patience. Captain Thabang Lebese scored the winner in the 19

th minute – and Amakhosi held on to emerge victorious.

 

Chiefs were joined in the final by Wits who demolished Free State 11-0 in the second semifinal. Wits led 4-0 at the break.

 

Two goals each from Liam Jordan, Luvuyo Mkatshana and Farai Dutiro and one each from Peter Frosler, Mohamed Bhamjee, Antonio Canada, Sanele Tshabalala and Ntokozo Mbatha were enough to see Wits through.

 

”I am just happy that my boys are getting a run. We came here to test how far they are because this team is still in the building process but for them to have reached the final is a plus for the whole team.

 

“It would be great to win the tournament but for us the bigger picture is developing these players step by step. Victory against Bidvest Wits will give them a morale booster to work even harder and achieve more,” said Kaizer Chiefs U17 coach Arthur Zwane.

 

“But I will be more than happy if some of my boys are selected into the provisional National U17 squad that will show that we are doing something right even though this is still a new team. It’s good that companies like Burger King and Grand Parade Investment are coming on board at the lower level of the game so that we can grow our football together. And I believe when more companies join it means more players being trained properly.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Semi Final Results:

 

Semi Final 1

 

19. Kaizer Chiefs (

Winner Group B)         1              0              KZN (

Winner Group C) 

Semi Final 2

 

20. Bidvest Wits (

Winner Group A)          11           0              Free State (

Best Runner Up)

 

 

3

rd/4

th Place Playoffs

 

Friday, 4 April 2014

 

21.  Loser Semi-Final 1                                    v              Loser Semi Final 2           

15h30 

FINAL:

 

Sunday, 6 April 2014

 

22. Winner Semi-Final 1                 v              Winner Semi Final 2                       

12h30 
-TDN
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