The television and radio actors were crowned as the winners of the Phalaphala FM sanitary towel campaign tournament when they beat Phalaphala FM 2-1 in the final at the Rabali Stadium on Saturday.
As if they were going to give their opponents a free soccer lesson, Phalaphala FM was the first to find the net. It took them only nine minutes to blow the trumpet. Muzamzi Munyai forced his way through the defence of Actors and showed the keeper the wrong way.
The goal was a morale booster to Phalaphala's midfielders. They created several dangerous moves from the middle of the park, with Actors chasing the action. The actors found the equaliser in the 26th minute. Mulimisi Tsherana beat the keeper with a volley, following a brilliant pass from Tshibulebule Muthambi.The score was 1-1 when the teams adjourned for half time.
Phalaphala effected only one change to their starting line-up. They replaced Ramsey Rampfumedzi with station manager Freddy Sadiki three minutes into the last half, but he played only four minutes before he got injured. Phalaphala's centre forward, Mulalo Ramarumo, could not believe his eyes when his volley hit the woodwork and landed outside the field of play for a goal kick.
As if that was not enough to upset the team's enthusiastic fans, Lucky Tshilimandila caused another upset seven minutes thereafter. His close-range ground cutter missed the goal mouth by inches. Actors took the lead in the 68th minute. Mayor Mulalo gave the ball a final touch after a scramble within the box.
The last 10 minutes of the game was a war in the true sense of the word. Phalaphala was threatening to find the net, but the solid defence of their opponents denied them a goal. Phalaphala's keeper, Rudzani "1020" Khalushi, saved a powerful shot by Macdonald "KK" Mulaudzi.