Maritzburg College crowned KZN Inland A-League champion
Maritzburg College has, once again, claimed the Mancosa KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Football (KZNHSFA) Second Term, Inland A-League title.
On Wednesday, on Barns Field, at College, the home team scored a 2-0 win over their local rival, Carter High, to lay claim to the silverware.
After a shaky start, the Red, Black, and White found their feet and produced an outstanding performance.
They put Carter under heavy pressure throughout the match, leading to the 2024 winners regularly ceding possession, struggling to clear the ball, and then, when they did make it to the other end of the field, missing chances.
At halftime, it was goalless, but College wasted no time after the restart and quickly seized the lead in the second stanza.
Wandile Zondi gave the home supporters what they wanted to, scoring moments after the seconds half was underway. Then, vice-captain Mazithi Qasha, a prolific and reliable source of goals for College for the past three seasons, added a second to give the home team some breathing room.
Qasha went on to win the Golden Boot, topping the league’s goal-scoring chart with seven to his name.
The second half belonged to Maritzburg College, with co-vice-captain Malachi Momple coming close to netting a third. Inhle Myeni, Carter’s goalkeeper, denied him, however, with an impressive save, which deflected the ball into the side-netting.
With only a minute remaining, Carter High was awarded a penalty, which offered them a faint hope of rescuing a draw.
Anele Zuma took the spot kick, but College’s captain, CJ Sukraj, outstanding in shootouts, denied Zuma to firmly slam the door on Carter’s slim hopes.
Another standout player for College was centre-back Bilal Parak. He was a force on defence, safeguarding the backline with authority to the earn the Man of the Match award.
College’s victory on Wednesday marked the first title for coach Caniggia Garaba. He succeeded Chemon Petersen after the Maritzburg College old boy enjoyed a hugely fruitful time in charge, which included a memorable treble-winning season in 2023.
Since 2018, College has contested every final of the Inland A-League. Maritzburg College’s Director of Soccer, Nic Haswell, proudly informed SuperSport Schools Plus that Wednesday’s title win was their fifth in the KZN Inland u19 A-League.
