Duduza – The Wattville side VurVai FC were crowned champions of the iDiskie nine-nine festive games as the first-time entrants to the tournament which took place from December 16 to 30 at the Bluegumview Ground Two and the Duduza Stadium.
VurVai started the tournament well, winning their first game against 10111 Yase Zamane then won the second group stage game and drew their last in the stage.
They went on to the last 16, where they faced their biggest rivals in a Wattville Derby, the defending champions Wattville United, which they knocked out to progress to the last eight.
VurVai was still on fire in the quarter-finals as they beat their opponents Bazingeli Rovers 3-0, placing them in the semis where they beat Duduza’s side Italian 2 Touch by 1-0.
VurVai faced an ABC Motsepe League team, Jomo Cosmos in the finals. This was a game anticipated by the fans who wanted Cosmos to win as they were playing at their usual home ground.
A fan, Tsholofelo Mokoena said before the start of the game, “We (Cosmos) are not losing this one, there is no way will ever lose at home.”
Mokoena was confident that Cosmos would lift the trophy at the end of the day. The game was intense and went to halftime at a 0-0 draw.
Both sides fought, but it was through Lebohang Tsotetsi’s strike outside of the box that VurVai emerged victorious as the 2023 iDiskie nine-nine festive games champions.
iDiskie nine-nine PRO Sizwe Nqubezelo said, “We would like to thank and appreciate everyone who supported us during the tournament; our sponsors, community and the teams.”
- Champions – VurVai FC
- Runners up – Jomo Cosmos
- Third place – Archaar Boys
- Fourth place – Italian 2 Touch.