Victory for Tshakhuma over Valdezia

Mpho Mufamadi of Valdezia controls the high ball while Aaron Sithole of Tshakhuma Project is on his heels.

Victory for Tshakhuma over Valdezia

The newly formed Tshakhuma Project FC proved all the critics wrong by winning the Tshakhuma Off-season Soccer Tournament at the Tshakhuma Malaria grounds on Saturday.

Three teams, Tshakhuma Project FC, Mutsha Atlantis Stars and Valdezia FC, took part in the one-day event. Tshakhuma beat Valdezia 2-1 in the final.

The game was lukewarm in the first 10 minutes as the teams took their time to study each other’s weak and strong points. Realising that there was nothing to fear, the home side took the game to the visitors as the first half approached the halfway mark. They opened their account in the 20^th minute. Fhatuwani Mudau won the ball in the 35-meter area and ran straight to the right corner, from where he dished a square pass. Phathutshedzo Raseluma, who was in the perfect scoring position, hooked in the ball. Ndivhuwo “Rooney” Makhado of Tshakhuma was reprimanded with a card in the 29^th minute for making a false call.

Valdezia regrouped from behind and pressed hard in their search for the equalizer, but the score line remained unchanged until the proceedings for the first half came to an end.

Tshakhuma increased the lead in the 55^th minute. Fhatuwani Mudau dribbled past two defenders in a row and beat the keeper with a ground cutter. Valdezia pulled one back in the 69^th minute. They were awarded a penalty after Mpho Mufamadi was brought down within the box. Frankie Baloyi blasted in a rocket from the white spot.

Valdezia were reduced to 10 men late in the game. Norman Shivambu was given his marching orders, following an illegal tackle on Mulalo Mukhithi.

Tshakhuma were presented with a cash prize of R4 500 after the game. Valdezia and Atlantis Stars went back with empty hands as it was a winner-takes-all tournament.

Ndivhuwo “Rooney” Makhado of Tshakhuma Project protects the ball while Thendo Khosa of Valdezia tackles him from behind.

Phathutshedzo Raseluma of Tshakhuma Project (right) and Zakes Mkoki of Valdezia wrestle to win the ball.

Fhatuwani Mudau of Tshakhuma Project in action after kicking the ball.

Date:07 September 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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