Zoutpansberg Powerline FC managed to beat Pat All Stars 1-0 in an exciting final of the Hollywoodbets Top 8 Cup on Sunday.
The match took place at the Mabaleng Sports Centre in Tshiozwi village.
Powerline, however, had no easy route to the final. In the quarter-finals they came up against the defending champions, Mubva All Stars, whom they beat 2-1. Their next hurdle was even higher, and they came up against Hollywoodbets Mabaleng Development in the semi-finals. This match ended in a 1-1 draw and went to a penalty shootout, which Powerline won 5-4.
Pat All Stars' road to the final went via Maebani Aces, whom they easily beat 6-1 in the quarter-final. They then faced Madodonga United, and this proved to be a humdinger. All Stars won this match 1-0 to proceed to the final.
Zoutpansberg Powerline received R8 000 for winning the final, and received gold medals, a floating trophy and gift hampers from the sponsors. Pat All Stars and all the teams that lost in the quarter- and semi-finals received consolation prizes of R800 each.
Zoutpansberg Powerline's coach, Maake Theni, was very excited when receiving the trophy and the prize money. He said that it would assist the team in covering some of the expenses. "We spend a lot of time practising and making sure we excel. I am very proud of the fighting spirit of my boys," he said.
Ms Indira Albuquerque, the sponsorship coordinator of Hollywoodbets, was very impressed with the participation of the local communities. "We believe that sport is a vehicle that can assist in bringing about social change and development for the youth," she said. She thanked the organisers, Mamu Community Development, for facilitating the initiative, as well as all the other organisations and businesses that made the tournament possible.
Mamu's general secretary, Jafter Mamugudubi, thanked the sponsors, namely Premjee & Son Cash and Carry, Hollywoodbets, Collins Sebola Group, KFC, Hyundai Louis Trichardt, Talisman Hire, Postnet Makhado, Mikasa, Phadziri Bus Service & Coaches, R Phadziri & Bros, Nkoli Enterprise, Soutpansberg Cold Storage, Trade Post 2076cc & Afrox, FNB and Coca Cola.