The inter-regional matches for the Nedbank Cup KO competition were staged at the Makwarela Stadium last Sunday. Five teams from the five Safa Regions took part in the one-day event to determine a team that will play against the ABC Motsepe League's overall winner.
The five teams that battled it out in the tournament are Tshakhuma Na Ndilani (Vhembe), Jane Furse Highlanders (Sekhukhune), Tau Tau FC (Capricorn), Troublemakers FC (Waterberg) and Emmanuel Iron Breakers from the Mopani Region.
Two teams, Emmanuel Iron Breakers and Tau Tau FC, had to play in the preliminary round earlier in the day, so that only four teams would remain to play in the semi-final stage. No goal was seen during the regulation time and the winner was determined through penalty shoot-out. Tau Tau converted all their five chances, while Iron Breakers scored four. There was drama shortly after the referee blew the final whistle.
The players and fans for Iron Breakers ganged up and approached the match officials angrily, accusing them of favouritism. They argued that the referee shouldn't have allowed a player of Tau Tau to retake the penalty after his first attempt went wide. On the other hand, the match officials justified their decision by indicating that the keeper had moved some steps forward before the penalty was taken.
The organizers had to intervene to calm down the situation as the angry fans were baying for the match officials' blood.
In the other semifinal, Tshakhuma Na Ndilani beat Jane Furse Highlanders 3-1. Godfrey Mudau scored a brace, while Junior Mashavhathakha scored the third with a header. Lawrence Motau scored the Highlanders' solitary goal.
Tshakhuma Na Ndilani lost 0-2 to Tau Tau FC in the final. (See the match report elsewhere).