After the grueling group stage of the MultiChoice Diski Challenge, eight teams have exited the competition. But they left a lasting impression in the inaugural reserve league and also gained valuable experience in the process.
The teams accumulated 12 wins among themselves and scored a staggering 70 goals combined - which explains the quality that they all possessed.
The two youngsters, who are joint second on the top-scorers list, come from two of the eliminated teams. Deadly striker Khanyisa Mayo netted four times for Chippa United in five matches. Free State Stars' promising juvenile Jackson Maphathe also scored four goals from the midfield.
However, the eight teams suffered 28 defeats combined, with 13 coming from the Group A teams - where Maritzburg United and Moroka Swallows lost four each. The Group B sides lost 15 matches, with bottom-placed AmaZulu handed six losses.
Another downfall was the 104 goals they conceded. The Group B teams let in 54 goals while their Group A counterparts conceded four goals lesser.
We take a look at the teams' progress in the tournament;
GROUP A
Kaizer Chiefs
Chiefs opened with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Maritzburg United as the competition debuted in Umlazi, Durban at the King Zwelithini Stadium. Veteran Josta Dladla, who took part inorder to regain his fitness, gave them the winner when he scored a penalty late in the game. Their second match was a 1-all draw against SuperSport United in Soweto, where Hendrick Estein netted the equaliser. They dished out their best performance in match-day three away to Ajax Cape Town, coming from a goal down to win 4-2. Bloemfontein Celtic handed them their first defeat in Pretoria, where they went down 1-0. Their following game ended in a 1-1 draw against bottom-placed Moroka Swallows. They then faced the challenge to win their remaining two matches in order to qualify for the quarterfinals. A 2-1 win over Polokwane City in the fifth match, kept their hopes alive. But they suffered a 3-1 loss against University of Pretoria in final clash, a result that eliminated them and sent Tuks through.
Record: P7 W3 D2 L2 GF9 GA8 GD1 P11
Position: 5
Star players: Hendrick Estein, Chris Matombo, Mduduzi Nyandeni, Lorenzo Gordinho, Siphiwe Mtsweni
Ajax Cape Town
The young Urban Warriors were held to a 1-all draw in their first match against Swallows at the Coetzenburg Stadium in Cape Town. They conceded late in the match after Bantu Mzwakali had given them the lead early in the second half. Their first victory came in the second match, where a late show saw them edge Polokwane 3-2 - with striker Noah Sadaoui scoring a brace. They then suffered a 4-2 home defeat against Chiefs. Maritzburg, who had not earned a single point, defeated them 2-1 in Pretoria. They bounced back the following day with a 2-1 win over SuperSport United - courtesy of goals from Justin Jacobus and Charlton Basson. Their next match against Tuks at the Cape Town Stadium ended in a goalless draw, a result that put their hopes for qualification in danger. Celtic edged them 1-0 in their must-win final match in Kimberly, resulting to them bowing out of the competition.
Record: P7 W2 D2 L3 GF9 GA11 GD-2 P8
Position: 6
Star players: Noah Sadaoui, Anthony Gordinho, Justin Jacobus, Ziyaad Eksteen, Olwethu Nguye
Maritzburg United
The KZN side went three matches without any win or point. They lost 1-0 against Chiefs in the opener, the second match ended in a 2-1 defeat against Tuks. SuperSport handed them their third-straight loss when they went down 2-0 at home. They got their first points against Ajax in Pretoria, where Sheldon van Wyk and Menzi Chili gave them a 2-1 victory. They followed with a 1-1 draw against high-flying Celtic, with Sandile Dlamini scoring the equaliser. The two results meant they were then in contention for the quarterfinals, with two games to go. But a 1-1 draw against struggling Swallows resulted in them being eliminated before the final match. They then finished with a 6-2 defeat away to Polokwane.
Record: P7 W1 D2 L4 GF7 GA14 GD-7 P5
Position: 7
Star players: Menzi Chili, Sandile Dlamini, Sheldon van Wyk, Veluyeke Zulu, Bandile Shandu
Moroka Swallows
The young Dube Birds started with an away draw when Mike Motombe scored late to deny Ajax. They could have wondered what hit them in their next fixture as the unthinkable happened, losing 8-0 to the rampant Celtic. Another defeat followed as they went down 2-0 to Tuks at the Dobsonville Stadium. Swallows then travelled to Pretoria to play two back-to-back clashes under pressure to get good results. It didn't go as planned as they suffered a 2-1 loss against Polokwane and drew 1-1 with Chiefs the following day. The results confirmed their elimination from the tournament with two games remaining. In their sixth match, they got a 1-all draw away to Maritzburg, who also fell out of contention. They lost their final encounter 3-0 against SuperSport.
Record: P7 W0 D3 L4 DF3 GA17 GD-14 P3
Position: 8
Star players: Fortune Makaringe, Mike Mutombe, Lerato Sekhotho, Manqoba Khumalo, Sphesihle Nxumalo
GROUP B
Bidvest Wits
The Students were held to a 1-1 by Platinum Stars in the opening match in Umlazi, conceding a late goal after Mthokozisi Msomi had given them the lead. That clash was followed by an entertaining 3-3 draw against Mpumalanga Black Aces in Soweto, Tshidiso Monamodi and Elasto Kapowezha scored with the third one being an own goal. They then edged Pirates, who had not dropped any points, 2-1 in their next match - through goals from Asive Langwe and Msomi. They lost 2-0 against Free State Stars in their first match in Pretoria and drew 1-1 with Mamelodi Sundowns the following day, with Monamodi finding the target. Another 1-all draw against bottom-placed AmaZulu put their qualification hopes in jeopardy. They needed to win their last match and also hope the other results went to their favour. With the other rivals winning their matches, they were eliminated despite beating Chippa United 3-1.
Record: P7 W2 D4 L1 GF11 GA10 GD1 P10
Position: 5
Star players: Tshidiso Monamodi, Mthokozisi Msomi, Markus Lecki, Tebogo Moerane, Manqoba Mnisi
Chippa United
The Chilli Boys lost 3-2 against Aces in a thrilling-opener in Cape Town, with Ayanda Yake and Mziyayise Williams scoring their goals. They also lost their second match 2-1 against Pirates in Soweto despite going ahead via Owen Naidoo's goal. They turned the tables in their third clash thumping Free State 6-2 with Khanyisa Mayo and Siyabonga Dabula scoring a brace each. That result was followed by their second defeat, where Sundowns won 2-0 in Pretoria. They found their form the next day as they thumped AmaZulu 4-1, with Mayo and Siyabulela Shai both netting a double. The match that derailed them was the 1-1 draw away to Platinum in their sixth match. Their slim hopes of progressing to the quarterfinals ended in the final encounter where they lost 3-1 away to Wits.
Record: P7 W2 D1 L4 GF15 GA14 GD1 P7
Position: 6
Star players: Khanyisa Mayo, Siyabonga Dadula, Siyabulela Shai, Somila Ntsundwana, Ayanda Yake
Free State Stars
Stars lost their first match by a 1-0 scoreline against Sundowns in Cape Town. They followed with a 3-1 victory over AmaZulu, with striker Adam Basit from the senoir team scoring a brace and other other goal coming from Jackson Maphathe. Their second defeat came in the next match, going down 6-2 to Chippa. They recovered to edge Wits 2-0 in Pretoria through goals from Richard Henyekane and Maphathe. They then drew 1-1 with Black Aces after Sydney Masana had gaven them an early lead. The sixth match ended in another deafeat against Pirates after allowing them to fight back from a goal down and win 2-1. Platinum handed them their fourth loss in the final match, where they went down 2-1.
Record: P7 W2 D1 L4 GF11 GA14 GD-3 P7
Position: 7
Star players: Jackson Maphathe, Sydney Masana, Reabetsoe Rakoti, Faeez Khan, Mlungisi Mbunjana
AmaZulu
AmaZulu went five games without registering any point, which was the worst performance in the competition. Pirates overcame them 1-0 in the opening match in Umlazi, courtesy of a late goal. They lost 3-1 against Stars in their second match in Soweto. Sundowns inflicted their third-straight loss when they went down 2-1 at home. Two more defeats followed in Pretoria, losing 2-0 against Platinum and 4-1 the following day versus Chippa. Those results eliminated them from contention for the quaterfinals. They earned their first point when they held Wits to a 1-all draw at home, with their goal coming from Darren Smith. Aces handed them their sixth loss in the final encounter, winning 3-1.
Record: P7 W0 D1 L6 GF5 GA16 GD-11 P1
Position: 8
Star players: Darren Smith, Bradley Tagat, Mfanafuthi Dlamini, Siya Mngoma, Mafika Ndlovu
