Map Games 2019 King and Diski Queen all crowned in thrilling matches
ALEXANDRA – The Map Games 2019 have crowned their champions for the 2019 games.
There is a new king of the Maimane Alfred Phiri Games (Map Games) seniors division and that is Baroka FC from the valleys of Limpopo.
The crowning follows the ‘king’s’ 2–1 triumph over Lebash FC in a thrilling Limpopo derby of the Map Games 2019 at a chilly Alexandra Stadium in a township that was the king of sport and culture but is now infamous for its crime and grime.
Baroka are R190 000 richer after vanquishing all who came before them in this lucrative tournament known as Alexandra’s own World Cup. The losing finalists pocketed R105 000 and bronze medallists R35 000.
Two quick goals in the first half of the game, one as early as the 14th minute, ensured that the Limpopo side’s premiership development team reigned supreme for the entire 90 minutes in a game that kept spectators on their feet.
There were a lot of missed chances for both teams but Baroka’s defensive wall proved too tough to crack, especially in the second half as Lebash mounted raid after raid but failed to penetrate as Baroka held firm with their two-goal cushion.
Unlike the first half, the second stanza belonged to Lebash as they probed the Baroka defence. The solid wall was only breached in the dying minutes of the game when Lebash pulled one back but it was too little too late.
In the women’s section, the title of Diski Queen went to another Limpopo outfit, First Touch Ladies Academy and so did the first prize money of R35 000. First Touch defeated a determined Tshwane University of Technology Ladies who pocketed R15 000 as silver medallists.
In the masters section of the Alex Masters Soccer League, the bragging rights and R3 000 first prize money went to Real Sundowns while the runners-up Alex Mates pocketed R2 000.
Alexandra’s Bluebirds Ladies, who were the defending champions and mainly comprised of development players, were knocked out in the early stages of the tournament. All finalists from the quarters were kitted out with brand new kits.
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