UJ penalty shoot-out hero Mduduzi Khumalo shed tears of joy as he helped his team to set-up a dream final with Gauteng rivals UP-Tuks at the Soweto Campus on Monday night.
The Kwa-Zulu Natal-born goalkeeper was holding back the tears as he described what the win meant to him. He pulled off two superb penalties as UJ advanced to the final in their debut season.
After the match was tied in a 2-2 draw in regulation time, Khumalo said he knew that he would get it right in the spot kicks. Even coach Bradley Carnell sung his praises.
Carnell said: “I had a feeling that the goalkeeper would come to our rescue because he had done that before in our club games. He showed that he can carry the team and he did well. What a performance he is a great goalkeeper.”
Khumalo says that he has been practising penalties and he knew that it would pay off in a big match. His moment finally arrived and he was hailed as a hero.
Khumalo said: “I can’t describe how I feel right now I knew that I would save them. I have been working on this since I was a kid.”
But the modest goalkeeper was quick to remind his teammates that the job is not done yet as Tuks lie in wait.
“Tuks is a great team and it will be a mistake to think that we have already won the tournament. I hope that I will make a positive contribution and help my team to win the big match.
“The coach told us to give one last big performance and win the final,” he added.
UJ hammered Tuks 4-0 in a mini-league match in Pretoria last month, but the goalkeeper downplayed their chances of repeating that feat again.
“They will be looking for revenge and they will strongly come at us, but we will give them a run for their money,” he said.
By Charles Baloyi – Daily Sun and Sunday Sun Sports Writer
