Stadium Management South Africa the company which manages and maintains the beautiful FNB Stadium, Orlando Stadium, Dobsonville Stadium and Rand Stadium hosted the Football Challenge, an exciting football competition featuring semi-professional players from around South Africa.
Stadium Management South Africa ensured that players participating in the Football Challenge were treated to a world-class pitch and an unforgettable football experience.
Players who competed in the Football Challenge tournament got to experience the magical feeling of playing football at FNB Stadium, the same stadium which hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup opening match and the final.
How the Football Challenge Works
Players competing in the football challenge take shots at goal and are awarded points based on the following criteria:
Players are awarded 2 points for hitting the crossbar or sidebar, 2 points for a goal and the goalkeeper is awarded 1 point for a save.
The players:
Bradley Newton
Born: 1991
Level: Semi-Professional level player (crossbar specialist)
Preferred foot: left
Traits: Powerful shooting ability and explosive pace. Competitive sprinter.
Masana Motlatla
Born: 1990
Level: semi-professional (former provincial indoor player)
Preferred foot: right
Traits: Accurate passing and shooting ability and a great presence in the midfield.
Thulani Dube
Born: 1996
Level: National level (professional)
Preferred foot: Right foot
Traits: exceptional crossing, passing, tactical play and match awareness.
Keelarn Soma
Born: 1992
Level: Semi-Professional
Preferred foot: left
Traits: great volley shooting ability. Top first touch. Can create and score goals.
Cameron Cosway
Born: 1997
Level: Semi-Professional
Preferred foot: right foot
Traits: Great leadership abilities. Great at one-on-one saves. Committed to the jersey.
Round one recap.
Brad was tasked with taking the first shot of the Football Challenge at FNB Stadium and he lived up to his reputation with a powerful shot from just outside the box which cannoned off the crossbar for two points.
Mas joined the party and hit an accurate shot onto the crossbar from just outside the penalty area.
Thulani was up next and he was not to be outdone with an accurate curling shot which hit the crossbar for two points.
Keelarn then stole the show with a well-timed shot which found the back of the net off the sidebar for four points.
Round two recap
Brad scored a beautifully crafted goal from just outside the box for two points and Mas used perfect technique as his shot from just outside the box hit the crossbar and found the back of the net for four points.
Goalkeeper Cameron had his moment to savour as he made a world-class save with good reflexes as he dived to save Thulani’s goal bound strike from just outside the box for one point.
Keelarn got his name on the scoresheet when he volleyed in from an accurate corner kick.
Round 3 recap
Cameron got gloves to the ball to save a powerful shot from just outside the box from Brad for 1 point.
Mas curled one into the corner of the net for two points and Thulani timed his acrobatic volley to perfection for a spectacular goal for 2 points while Cam got gloves to the ball and saved Keelarn’s strike.
Round 4 recap
This time Brad got the better of goalkeeper Cameron as he found the back of the net with a first time shot for 2 points, however Cameron was not prepared to pick the ball out of the back of the net twice in a row as he got down low and saved Mas’s shot. Thulani was up next and he found the back of the net with an accurate and powerful shot from just outside the box for two points.
FNB Stadium was treated to a goal fest as Keelarn found the back of the net once again to add another two points to his tally and the goalkeeper did not even move that is how good the shot was.
Round 5 recap
Brad started round 5 in stunning fashion with a diving header which saw the ball hit the sidebar.
Cameron was called into action once more with a fine save from Mas’s shot.
Thulani had a short run up and Cameron dealt with his shot to make the save.
Keelarn left Cameron with no chance as he thundered the ball into the roof of the net.
Round 6 recap
Cameron got both hands to the ball to deny Brad and Mas while Thulani hit the crossbar and Cameron saved Keelarn’s shot at goal.
All players participating in the Football Challenge enjoyed the spectacle of playing at FNB Stadium and had the time of their lives.
Stadium Management South Africa looks forward to hosting the Football Challenge again in the future.