Coach says promoted Empangeni is aiming high in Coastal A-League
Fans of the Mancosa KwaZulu-Natal Football Association (KZNHSFA) Second-Term League have been starved of football for a week, with KZN teams participating in various tournaments, including the Absa Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament and the annual Freedom Cup Soccer Tournament over the past weekend.
This week, the league makes its return. The Coastal A-League and Inland A-League matches will be broadcast on Channel 216 on DStv and the SuperSport Schools App.
On Monday, SuperSport Schools Plus conducted an exclusive interview with Khayelihle Mtshali, the head coach of Empangeni High School, which was promoted to the Coastal A-League this season.
Mtshali said that his team had received a baptism of fire in a loss to Port Shepstone High, the current log leaders of the Coastal A-League, in their opening match.
“We lost 0-4 to Port Shepstone. I knew it was not going to be easy competing in the A-League. Every team is looking at us as a team to beat,” Mtshali said.
Despite having one of the youngest teams this season, he said Empangeni would provide tough competition.
“We have a very young team this year. Ninety-five percent of our team are 16 years or younger, but they’re very talented.
“We are getting better every day. We are still a work in progress but trust me, we are going to cause one or two upsets in this league, and I am looking for a top-four finish,” he added.
Mtshali said Empangeni’s promotion required a great deal of effort and commitment. Thanks to outstanding support from the school’s principal, Sizwe Zwane, they have made the step up to take on the best teams in the province.
“The league is highly competitive. There are no easy games, but it all starts with the preparations. Fortunately, I have all the support from Mandla Mdletshe, the Football and Team’s Manager at Empangeni, who organises training sessions for me to be able to instil the philosophy in the boys and improve our style of play,” Mtshali said.
Ahead of an important game against Glenwood High School, the defending champions, Mtshali stated that he believes his boys will be ready for a battle on Tuesday. He’s hopeful that they can pull off a win, even though last week’s holidays disrupted their regular training schedule.
He listed finishing and decision-making in the last third as some of the areas that Empangeni High has been working on, and not only with an eye on Tuesday’s clash. Mtshali said creating scoring opportunities has not been a problem, but finishing them has been an area in need of improvement.
Being part of the well-run and well-organised Mancosa KZNHSFA Second-Term League is an honour and a privilege, he continued.
“I believe it is critical for the players’ development that they compete against the best schools in the province. Playing at least one game every week is a perfect opportunity to develop as a player,” he explained.
“It’s a great platform for the boys to showcase their talent and grow as footballers and for me to grow as a coach.”
FIXTURES
Coastal A-League
Venue: Queensburgh High School
Field 1
15:10 – Bechet vs Pinetown Boys’ High
16:15 – Northwood School vs Port Shepstone
Field 2
15:10 – Westville Boys’ High School vs Hillcrest High School
16:15 – Empangeni High School vs Glenwood High School
Inland A-League
Venue: Barns Field (Maritzburg College)
15:00 – Newton vs Haythorne Secondary School
16:05 – Maritzburg College vs Ixopo Secondary School
Venue: Alexandra High School
15:00 – Alexandra High School vs Linpark High School
16:00 – Carter High School vs Edendale Technical High School
