Zulu powers Verulam Sporting to commanding victory
Hat-trick hero
Verulam Sporting raced to a 5-0 victory over Longcroft Falcons in the eThekwini Masters Over 50s League.
Image: Supplied
TRAILING 2-0 at halftime, Verulam Sporting FC’s over-50s team demonstrated extraordinary resilience to score four unanswered goals against Inanda, keeping their eThekwini Masters League title hopes alive.
Captain Tsepo Ntsoane, despite nursing an injury, led the inspirational comeback that had set up a championship-deciding finale. At the Westville Prison Grounds on Sunday, Verulam Sporting wrote a story that would be told with pride in football circles.
Trailing 2-0 to a confident Inanda, the men from Verulam staged a breath-taking comeback to win 4-2. It also reminded everyone that experience, heart, and teamwork could overturn any odds. The match started in frustration for the visitors. Despite early chances from Nyamfu Zulu, Prince Mtshali, and Thulani Goqo, the ball refused to find the net.
Inanda, quick to punish mistakes, struck twice in succession –leaving Sporting stunned and, for the first time this season, chasing the game. But champions “are built from grit”. Ten minutes before halftime, Mtshali’s trademark left-foot thunderbolt reignited belief. The halftime talk was less about tactics and more about pride – and when the team returned, they looked reborn.
Njinga Mathebula powered home the equaliser, setting the tone for a second-half display of dazzling, one-touch football led by their inspirational captain, Ntsoane. Nursing a shoulder injury, Ntsoane orchestrated play from the midfield with poise and passion. His through-ball created the penalty that allowed Zulu to slot home the go-ahead goal, sending the Verulam bench into wild celebration.
Moments later, Ntsoane’s pinpoint cross found Zulu again, whose acrobatic finish sealed an unforgettable 4-2 turn around. For the Verulam faithful, it was more than just a win – it was a triumph of unity, discipline, and belief.
“Inanda gave us a real scare but we stayed humble, fought back, and showed what Verulam Sporting stood for,” said club public relations officer Salva Govender afterward.
As the side prepares for their season finale against Durban Sporting on November 15, at the Verulam Recreation Grounds, Govender’s message is simple: “Let’s fill the stands. A win will make us champions in our debut season – and what a proud moment that would be for Verulam.”