Fans kept their fingers crossed for the much anticipated game between Mighty City netball team and Super Eagles at Vuyiseka Sport Complex on Saturday 14 May.
Mighty City, from the Lotus informal settlement in Gugulethu, won the game 8-7.
Both coaches lambasted the umpires for alleged poor officiating.
The City’s coach Siyasisanda Mbonose said it was a tough game. “We were playing against a formidable team. Their defenders were taller than our shooters which made it difficult for us to score,” she said.
Mbonose called for the standard of officiating to be improved.
“Even though we had a better edge than them our umpires kept on making the wrong decisions. They (umpires) spoiled the game,” she said.
However, Mbonose vowed that they will keep working hard to improve their performance.
Eagles coach Nomaria Mlumkisi reiterated Mbonose’s sentiments. She said they lost the game due to poor officiating.
She said they tried so hard to win the game but they lost.
“It was not our game. We fought but we failed. But we are hoping we will win our next one,” she vowed.
Mlumkisi cited that she is still building a her team. “We are the current champions. We won the league last season. But this year most of our players left the team for different reasons like others are working while others are busy studying. Now we need to work on the team so that it can be where it was last season,” said Mlumkisi.
Both teams are playing in the Southern Zone Netball District.