Benny's Care Soccer Academy was crowned as the new provincial champion of the Milo U/13 Soccer Development Tournament, after they managed to beat Nwasoroni Primary 6-4 at Modimole on Saturday. The winners had to be determined by means of a penalty shoot-out, after the teams played to a 2-all draw.
Benny's showed a spirit of commitment from the onset, with their midfielders distributing telling passes to the front-runners. It was their demon striker, Dakalo Vele, whose beautiful pass was well received by Lazarus Maluka, who tried his luck from the outside the box. The ball left the keeper, Theo Shingwenyama, flat footed.
The boys from Mopani soon realised that it was not their day when their goal poacher, Andile Sihlangu, missed a fortune in the 24th minute. The Nwasorini equaliser came in the 35th minute via Shado Mathebula. Benny's defender, Khethani Matshakatini, hesitated for too long with the ball until Mathebula took the ball and scored freely.
Early in the second half, Aluwani Mulaudzi was brought down inside the penalty box and the referee pointed to the white spot. Rabelani Ramabulana easily scored. Their celebration was, however, cut short when Thabang Miyeni equalised.
The teams went to the penalty shoot-out. Benny's strikers kept their cool and won the shoot-out 6-4. Benny's will now represent the province in the national championship, which will be played in Mpumalanga from 6 to 8 August.
The coach of Benny's, Mr Tendani "Maten ten" Rasikhinya, says the competition is about pride and honour. "This is the first year that we have made it to the national finals. We want to be the first team in Limpopo to win the tournament," he added. "Coaching these boys has brought nothing but joy to my heart, as I have seen how they have grown in confidence."