Rebels crowned new U17 champions of Map Games
ALEXANDRA – Rebels FC are the new champions of the 2017 Map Games U17 champions.
Reiger Park side Rebels FC are the new champions of the U17 division of the Maimane Alfred Phiri (Map) Games.
The tournament had been dominated by Alex outfit Malandela Mighty Heroes for the past two seasons.
The Rebels outgunned a gutsy Gunners 1–0 in one of the tightly contested final matches of the day in the four junior divisions of the U13, U15, U17 and U20 played at the Number 3 Square Grounds on Youth Day.
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Matches for the senior’s division begin on 24 June at the Rotary Grounds at the corner of 6th Avenue and Alfred Nzo Street, whose champions stand to pocket more than R200 000 in prize money.
To show how tight the game was, both sides went into the halftime break in a 0–0 stalemate with neither side managing to break each other’s watertight defence. Much of the first half play was concentrated in the middle of the park.
Ten minutes into the second half, Rudy Sibanda of Rebels finally managed to break the tight Gunners defence to slot the ball into the back of the net. Gunners were not to be outdone as they battled the rock solid Rebels defence but to no avail.
The Gunners came close to levelling matters but Thokozani Nyathi’s attempt hit the side netting. The Rebels too had their opportunities to increase the score line but Gunners keeper, Mahlatse Lebepe had a brilliant game as his heroics in goals minimised the damage.
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Meanwhile, in the U20 division, games founder Maimane Phiri will have to craft a new trophy as Baroka FC outclassed PSG 2–0 to be crowned champions for the third time in a row. This means that Baroka now keep the trophy forever.
Two goals in the second half, one of which was a penalty in the dying minutes of the game, secured the championship for Baroka when everybody thought the two teams were headed for the lottery of penalties to decide the winner.
Results of the Map Games juniors finals for 2017:
U13
Alex Royal Tigers SC 1 LRC FC 3
U15
Alex Royal Tigers SC 3 Gauteng FC 2
U17
Gunners FC 0 Rebels FC 1
U20
Baroka FC 2 PSG 0
