Freedom Birds are the Tshikosi champions

Mulodi Freedom Birds were crowned the champions of the Tshikosi Soccer Tournament at the Makonde Home Defenders grounds on Sunday.

Birds beat Sambandou United Professionals 6-5 in the final. The winner was determined through penalty shootout as the score was 1-1 at the end of the regulation time.

Freedom Birds received a cash prize of R8 000 during a ceremony at the grounds shortly after the final whistle.  The runners-up, Sambandou, received R4 000 during the ceremony.

Birds’ way to the final went via Dipeni FC, whom they beat 6-5 in their semi-final match at the same venue earlier that day.

The winner could not be determined during the 90 minutes regulation time. Dipeni lost 5-6 after a penalty shootout.

Sambandou United Professionals beat Mukula Young Santos in their semi-final match to secure a place in the final.

The teams that were booted out of the tournament in the semi-final stage, Mukula Young Santos and Dipeni FC, received R2 000 each.

In an interview with one of the organizers of the tournament, Mr Thinawanga Maphagela, he stated that the organizing committee was impressed by the way both the players and the officials had behaved themselves throughout the tournament. According to him, no incident that would have brought the sponsors into disrepute was reported.

A local business, Tshikosi Bar Lounge, was the main sponsor of the tournament. Sixteen teams, Dipeni FC, Khubvi Dangerous Darkies, United Artists, Ficus FC, Rambuda Young Fighters, Mulodi Freedom Birds, Thenzheni Liverpool, Ngovhela XI Experience, Mukula Young Santos, Mukula Jamaican Stars, Tshenzhe Pre-Mighty, Thengwe Flying Peace, Vondwe XI Bullets, Musasenda Big Five and Tshisikamulilo FC, took part in the tournament.   

Date:30 August 2019

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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