SAB League Provincial playoffs roundup

The SAB League provincial champions, Tshakhuma RO Nandilani FC.

SAB League Provincial playoffs roundup

Not only did Tshakhuma RO Nandilani performed well in the SAB League provincial promotional play-offs at the Nkowankowa Stadium in Tzaneen over the past weekend, but they represented the Vhembe Regional Association with distinction.

Nandilani finished the tournament in the first spot on the log with 12 points after winning all four their matches. Their opening match was against Ngwaabe City Motors from Sekhukhune, whom they beat 2-0. Dakalo “Akonkwo” Nemakonde and Shandukani Mabirimisa scored the two goals.

Nandilani tested their strength against the hosts, Baobab Zero Fake in their second and last fixture for the first day. Zero Fake were the first to find the net, but Nandilani responded by scoring two goals through Dakalo Nemakonde in quick succession. Ndivhuwo Makhado scored the third to bring the final score to 3-1.

Nandilani’s first match on Sunday was against Brazilians FC from the Capricorn Region, whom they overpowered 3-2.

Their last fixture of the tournament was against Lephalale Giant Killers. Killers demonstrated some spirit of commitment in the first half, but their stamina vanished with time and they finally lost 1-3.

Baobab Zero Fake, who obtained the second position in the tournament, beat Brazilians FC 1-0 in their opening match before losing 1-3 to RO Nandilani in their second match.

Zero Fake crushed Ngwaabe City Motors 2-0 in their third fixture. They wrapped up their programme by walloping Lephalale Giant Killers 7-0.

Ngwaabe City Motors won two and lost two matches to finish in the third spot. The Brazilians and Lephalale Giant Killers did not win a single match. They both went home with one point in hand after playing to a 2-2 draw against each other.

Tshakhuma RO Nandilani were presented with gold medals after the tournament. Baobab Zero Fake received silver, while Ngwaabe City Motors took home bronze medals.

Nandilani and Zero Fake will be campaigning in the ABC Motsepe League when the activities for the new season start in September.

Wesley Mkhari of Zero Fake hooks the high ball, while Sello Maimela of City Motors is focused on the ball.

Thabiso Lekgau of Nandilani chases the ball.

The president of Safa Vhembe Regional Association, Mr George Kubayi (left), congratulates the coach of Nandilani, Mr Mashudu “Coolio” Ndou, on his team’s promotion to the ABC Motsepe League.

Date:12 July 2018

By: Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990. He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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