DABOYSFC Edge Late Winner Against Prayer Warriors

DABOYSFC hosted Prayer Warriors FC at Eldorado Park Extension 6 on 2nd November 2025, kicking off at 1:00pm in a tightly contested tournament home match. The 11-a-side encounter ended 1-0 in favour of DABOYSFC after 90 minutes plus two minutes of added time, with a decisive late goal settling the contest.

DABOYSFC lined up in a 3-1-4-2 formation, deploying three defenders at the back: Ridwaan Rubidge on the right, Alanzo McKenzie centrally, and Tyson Bowers on the left. Neillan Abrahams operated as the solitary central midfielder sitting just ahead of the defence, tasked with breaking up opposition play and distributing the ball forward. Ahead of him, four attacking midfielders were positioned across the middle and flanks: Jaden Gentle on the right, Warren Meyers and Nazeem Ely centrally, and Leevin Zacheus on the left. Leading the line were two forwards, Riaz Rubidge on the right and Nathaniel Ferguson on the left, expected to spearhead attacks and convert chances. Kashwin Obermeyer guarded the goal. The substitutes named were Suhail De Koker, Raeez Rubidge, and Dejuanne Abdullah.

The first half saw a cagey affair with both sides probing but unable to break the deadlock, resulting in a goalless interval. DABOYSFC’s defensive trio held firm against Prayer Warriors FC’s advances, while the midfield quartet sought to create openings for the forwards.

Early in the second half, discipline became an issue for DABOYSFC as Riaz Rubidge was shown a yellow card in the 53rd minute for persistent infringements, signalling growing frustration. Twelve minutes later, tactical changes were made with Suhail De Koker replacing Riaz Rubidge, and immediately after, Raeez Rubidge came on for Warren Meyers in the 66th minute, injecting fresh legs into the midfield and attack.

The match intensity remained high, and tensions boiled over when goalkeeper Kashwin Obermeyer received a yellow card in the 69th minute for dissent by word or action, reflecting the pressure mounting on the home side.

With ten minutes remaining, DABOYSFC made their final substitution, bringing on Dejuanne Abdullah for Leevin Zacheus, aiming to maintain energy on the left flank and support the attack.

Despite the tight scoreline, the breakthrough came deep into added time. In the 92nd minute, Nathaniel Ferguson delivered a precise corner, which Jaden Gentle met with a close-range header to send the ball past the Prayer Warriors FC goalkeeper. This late strike proved decisive, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory for DABOYSFC.

The match was a testament to DABOYSFC’s resilience and tactical discipline, with the defensive unit and midfielders working tirelessly to stifle the opposition, while the forwards capitalised on a set-piece opportunity to claim all three points in front of 70 spectators.