Ratanang FC aims to keep unbeaten streak going
Tsimanyane – Apart from having limited resources to participate in the ongoing Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality (EPMLM) Local Football Association (LFA) League, Ratanang FC from Tsimanyane Village outside Marble Hall is aiming to keep the unbeaten streak alive.
The team is one of the hopefuls in the EPMLM LFA to get promotion to the Hollywoodbets SAFA Sekhukhune Football Regional League.
Despite playing a 1-1 draw with Hero Boys FC at Mogaladi Sports Grounds in the LFA fixture match played on Sunday 14 April, Ratanang is adamant that they will do better in the coming fixtures.
The team scored 9 goals and collected seven points in their three previous matches. They defeated Golden Boys FC from Leeuwfontein Township with a heavy 6-0 score and won 2-1 against Leeuwfontein Young Stars FC before they played a 1-1 draw with Hero Boys FC in their latest LFA match.
Ratanang FC Manager, Bobby Manasoe, told the publication that they are happy with the team’s current performance. However, Manasoe said his boys are sometimes deterred to play to their full potential because of challenges that includes lack of financial support.
“We are facing challenges in our league as we don’t have sponsors, some teams are forced to forfeit points as a results of late arrival or lack of transport. We believe sponsors could play a vital role in the overall performance of the team including in the technical department,” explained Manasoe.
Ratanang Marketing Manager, Jeffrey Walker, said they are facing challenges where they lose young talented football players who are going to join teams that only participate in tournaments because they get paid there.
“There are very good aspiring soccer players in LFA who deserves exposure. Unfortunately lack of sponsors and resources makes it difficult to keep players and they opt for tournaments where they are paid to play. Teams playing in LFA leagues loose players to teams that plays tournaments only and that puts player development at risk,” said Walker.
