Kwa-Thema – It was an action-packed Easter weekend at the Kwa-Thema Stadium when Nomndayi hosted their Easter Tournament.
Sixteen teams went head-to-head in the knockout stages on Friday and Saturday, with Sun City FC facing the Tornado Lions in the tournament’s opening game.
Thokozani ‘Messi’ Khoza from Sun City scored the opening goal toward the end of the first half. The Tornado Lions equalised in the second half through a goal by Mthusi Mqhele.
The game ended in a 2-1 win for the Lions after Samkelo Vilakazi scored the winning goal.
Sun City coach Elias Magedi said they had the game, especially in the first half, and don’t know where they lost it.
Tornado Lions coach Njabulo Cekwane said, “It wasn’t a good game. We gave Sun City too much space in the first half. I’m only glad we played better in the second half.”
The first-day scores were:
• 17 Masters lost 9-1 to Clever Dakhi
• Vultures lost 5-2 to Largos
• After a goalless draw, King Musi XI lost 3-1 to Archaar Boys on penalties.
Day two scores:
• Metro Stars 3-0 Sewele
• Time 2 Fight 2-1 D-442
• Jealous Down 2-1 Boko Haram
• Mlando 0-7 Amazokozoko
They knocked out all the losing teams, putting the winning teams through to the quarter-finals, with these scores:
• Tornado Lions faced Largos and won 3-1
• Metro Stars beat Time 2 Fight 2-0
• Clever Dakhi was eliminated by Archaar Boys after losing 1-0
• Jealous Down and Amazokozoko drew a 2-2, with Jealous Down losing 5-4 in penalties.
Four teams then went to the semis, and the following were the scores:
• Tornado Lions lost 2-0 to Archaar Boys
• Amazokozoko beat Metro Stars 1-0
The finals saw Amazokozoko meet Archaar Boys, who won the December Nomndayi Festive games. The game ended in a 1-1 draw and Archaar Boys won 7-6 on penalties.
Humphrey Mlwane, the Amazokozoko coach, said, “Our disadvantage was not getting enough rest because we only played the semis an hour before the finals. Our game plan was to make sure they didn’t score within the first half of the game and we achieved that.”
Mlwane said it was unfortunate that they lost the game, especially because this was the third tournament they had lost in penalties.
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Archaar coach Keletso Semase said their primary objective when affiliating with the tournament was to emerge victorious and they achieved that.
“This was for us a continuation from the festive games, which we also won,” said Semase.
According to Semase, they shared the R50 000 prize money among the players. They kept some money in the team’s account.
The individual winners were:
*Goalkeeper of the tournament – Sipho Karolo of Archaar Boys.
*Defender of the tournament – Nhlakanipho Sithole of Archaar Boys.
*Midfielder of the tournament – Qhawe Khumalo of Amazokozoko.
*Top goal scorer – Panawe Talboussouma of Archaar Boys.
*Player of the tournament/Chairman’s handshake – Nhlakanipho Sithole of Archaar Boys.
Nomndayi’s PRO Humphrey Sibande said, “We are grateful to the teams, supporters and vendors at the tournament. The tournament was a success.”
Sibande said another Nomndayi tournament would be announced in due course.
