On-fire Amigo sends All Stars up the table

Fixtures

CAPE TOWN ALL STARS are certainly doing something right. Not only has the rookie National First Division (NFD) club rocketed up the league standings, but they have also managed to unlock the potential of quite a few footballers deemed surplus at other teams.

The Gugulethu-based side takes on Thanda Royal Zulu in Richards Bay this afternoon – and the in-form Amigo Memela will again be looking to get among the goals.

Last week, in a 2-0 win over Royal Eagles in Philippi, Memela got both goals. He has now netted seven for the season and is closing in on the NFD’s leading marksman, Phumelele Bengu of Thanda, who has 15 goals.

Like his All Stars strike partner Zaid Patel, Memela has also struggled to fit in at other clubs, to get coaches to buy in to his talent.

Patel is on loan from Wits, and even previous loan spells at Black Aces and Free State Stars proved fruitless – until he got his chance at All stars, where his game is blossoming.

Memela is from Mbekweni in Paarl, an area that has spawned quite a few top players, such as Thembinkosi “Terror” Fanteni and Gareth Ncaca.

He spent time in the Ajax Cape Town youth academy and was even later promoted to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) squad. But he got no game time and eventually left the Parow club.

He then played at Hanover Park and Chippa United before arriving at All Stars. It is here where the 27-year-old Memela has finally found his niche – and he is revelling in the opportunity to play regularly and score goals at a club that fully believes in his ability.

Memela and Patel’s goals have been crucial to All Stars’ rapid rise up the NFD log. After languishing towards the basement of the league table earlier in the season, the team from Gugulethu is now in fourth position.

Golden Arrows continue to set the pace in the race for promotion to the PSL with 41 points, followed by Jomos Cosmos (39), Thanda (38), All Stars (37) and Milano United (34). NFD Today: Santos v Jomo Cosmos (Athlone, 3.30pm); Thanda Royal Zulu v Cape Town All Stars; Garankuwa United v Golden Arrows; Vasco da Gama v Milano United (Parow Park,3.30pm); Maluti FET College v Black Leopards; Royal Eagles v Highlands Park Tomorrow: Witbank Spurs v African Warriors; Baroka FC v FC Cape Town PSL Today: Black Aces v Moroka Swallows; Polokwane City v Bloemfontein Celtic; SuperSport United v University of Pretoria Tomorow: Platinum Stars v Maritzburg United

All Stars have won nine out of their last 11 games – and Memela explained their sudden emergence to prominence.

“When we started in the NFD, we had just come up from the Second Division,” he said.

“We weren’t used to the pace of the game and the step up in division. It was a learning curve, but once we settled and started playing as a team, things came together.

“We are playing as a unit and we are winning games. But we are doing it as a team. I am scoring goals, but it’s all about the team... without them, I would not be able to get the goals.”

As for Thanda this afternoon, Memela is aware that it won’t be easy. The last time they played the team from Richards Bay, they were hammered 3-0.

“We remember that loss, but it will be different this time,” he said.

“That was early in the season and we were still finding our feet... it will again be a tough game, they are also challenging for promotion, but we will again give our best as a team”

The other Cape clubs, all in midtable, are also in action this weekend. FC Cape Town are on 29 points, Vasco da Gama on 28 and Santos on 26.

Vasco and Milano meet in a Cape derby in Parow, while Santos host second-placed Cosmos at Athlone this afternoon.

FC Cape Town are in the Limpopo Province tomorrow, to take on Baroka FC.