East To Soweto FC are the new bulls of the kraal of the Red Bull Kasi Cup 2021 after they stunned Kathorus FC 3–0 in the final played at Alexandra Stadium on October 9.
It was a day filled with shibobos and other showboating skills from Gauteng’s best kasi football teams and East To Soweto bagged a cheque of R100 000 after they were crowned champions of the second edition of the tournament.
The 2020 edition was cancelled due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 global pandemic. Thokoza’s Snack FC were champions of the inaugural edition in 2019 with the final being played in Soweto and the same prize of R100 000.
This year, the first semi-final saw Kathorus FC, which was a team made up of players from the Kathorus region of Katlehong and Vosloorus, take on Yoyo FC from the West Rand. Kathorus FC emerged as the victors and in the second semi-final, East To Soweto snatched a win from Sesfikile FC to set up what turned out to be a delightful final against the Kathorus boys.
The final was preceded by an exhibition match of the legends of yesteryear and included Alexandra’s own Maimane Phiri who has been running a development tournament in the township known as the Map Games for the past 20 years. Also participating was former Kaizer Chiefs star Simphiwe Tshabalala, who incidentally cut his teeth in football while playing for Alex United.
Other legends included former Orlando Pirates player Edward ‘Magents’ Motale and his teammate Steve ‘Fakimal’uzobona’ Lekoelea, and Kaizer Chiefs’ Siphiwe ‘Dr Mnandi’ Mkhoza, who is also a renowned SABC soccer commentator.
In the final, both the Kathorus boys and the Sowetans brought their A game but the East To Soweto side proved to be the more hungrier of the two and were rewarded with three goals.
East To Soweto were a well-structured team, with a great defence and a strong attacking front line while Kathorus had gifted forwards but were unable to break the solid defence of the Sowetans. “It wasn’t easy selecting the team to play today, there is a lot of talent in the kasi but we were well organised in the end. I am very happy with the boys, they played very well and didn’t even concede a goal in any of the games,” said East To Soweto coach Musa Kahzamula.
His captain Salifu Mohammed thanked Red Bull for the tournament, saying it gave young people the opportunity to showcase their talent. “I am come all the way from Ghana and the Red Bull Kasi Cup has given me the opportunity to show what I can do on the field and I am very grateful for that.”
