Berea FC are the Zimunga champions

The players and fans for Berea lift the team’s keeper, Joseph Ndwammbi, after the game as a way to celebrate the team’s victory.

Berea FC are the Zimunga champions

Berea FC were crowned the 2017 champions of the Zimunga Soccer Tournament at the Zwigodini grounds last Saturday. They beat Makuya Junior Aces 5-3 in the final.

The game was a typical cup final as both sides managed to display entertaining football from the onset. The referee, Mr Mulalo Mubva, was the busiest man in the field of play. He was always running to keep up with the action.

He flashed the first yellow card 19 minutes into the game. Nkhaweleni Munyai of Junior Aces found himself on the wrong side of the football laws when he tackled Elias Ranyaoa from behind.

No goal was seen during the first half, despite numerous attempts by both sides.

The second half saw Berea pressing hard from behind. Junior Aces were the first to blow the trumpet. Their goal was scored against the run of play in the 55^th minute. Jerry Mpofu beat the keeper with a header, following scramble at the goal mouth.

Juliet Ngubane, the Berea right winger, was out of form. The team’s head coach, Mr Rofhiwa Muligwe, replaced him with Mabu Kgasago in the 67^th minute.

Berea did not lose hope, although time was fast running out for them. They found the equalizer in the 76^th minute via Pfariso Mukoma. He hooked in the ball after the keeper of Junior Aces, Maanda Nethononda, mishandled the ball.

Berea played the last 10 minutes of the game with their hands tied behind their backs. They were reduced to 10 men after Elias Ranyaoa saw red, following a second bookable offence.

The winner was determined through penalty shoot-out as the score was still 1-1 when the referee blew the final whistle. Berea scored four while Aces managed to convert only two of their chances.

Juliet Ngubane of Berea (closest to camera) and Rolivhuwa Singo of Aces are focused on the ball.

Elias Ranyaoa of Berea (right) and Uarilwela Mungadi of Aces chase the ball.

Aubrey Ndou of Berea (right) and Rinae Mokgomonyane of Aces are ready to attack.

Elias Ranyaoa of Berea (right) and Uarilwela Mungadi of Aces chase the ball.

Date:31 August 2017

By: Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990. He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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