Sundowns break scoring record

Mamelodi Sundowns buried Powerlines FC 24-0 in Kimberley, setting a new SA scoring record.

Had it been a boxing match, the coach of Powerlines FC, Cornelius Brandt, would have thrown in the towel. Instead, he watched helplessly as his troops were mauled and humiliated by ABSA Premier Soccer League (PSL) log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. Unfortunately, the playing fields were not level on Sunday when the star-studded Sundowns crushed the Powerlines 24-0 in the Nedbank Cup – setting a new South African scoring record. The Nedbank Cup sees 16 top-flight PSL teams pitted against eight First Division sides and eight amateur clubs. So, the only advantage that the SABC Regional League side – Powerlines – had was that the match was played on their own turf in Kimberley, but that didn’t count.

Local homeboy Richard “Kimberley Express” Henyekane in the colours of “the Brazilians” netted no less than five goals at the GWK Stadium. The most damage was done by Hlompho Kekana, who scored seven goals, and Nyasha Mushekwi, who banged in six. But if you expected the losing side to wallow in sorrow following their cruel defeat in the Nedbank Cup, think again. Brandt said: "Our heart and our spirit are not broken. This is Mamelodi Sundowns and they're a good team. The clubs in our league will suffer after the experience we got from this game."

Powerlines goalkeeper Thabiso Louw, who probably conceded more goals than he saved, said he still harbours dreams of playing in the PSL. “My favourite team is Kaizer Chiefs and I like [Siphiwe] Tshabalala, [Itumeleng] Khune and [Bernard] Parker. I look up to Khune and my dream is to play for Kaizer Chiefs one day.”

The new SA scoring record by "the Downs" replaces the ones set by AmaZulu with their 16-0 win against Bizana Lucky Stars at KwaMashu in the Benson & Hedges Cup in 1976, and a decade later when they beat Ford Pirates from Port Elizabeth by the same scoreline in the Mainstay Cup at King's Park Stadium.  

SOURCES: www.kickoff.com, www.news24.com