Lukau FC win Berea Madzonga cup

Last Saturday was a memorable day for Lukau FC. They were crowned the champions of the Berea Mdzonga Soccer Challenge at the Berea Grounds in Zwigodini.

Lukau beat Tshilavulu Elite 4-2 in the final to lift the trophy. The winner was determined through a penalty shootout, following a 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time.

Lukau’s way to the final went via Domboni Sunshine, whom they had beaten 4-3 in their semi-final match, which was played at the same venue earlier that day. They were presented with R30,000, a soccer kit, a floating trophy and gold medals during a ceremony at the grounds shortly after the final game. Tshilavulu Elite became R15,000 richer, apart from the soccer kit and silver medals they were again presented with.

Tshilavulu Elite had beaten Berea FC 3-2 in their semi-final match to secure a place in the final. Teams booted out of the tournament in the semi-final round, Berea FC and Domboni Sunshine, were each given R5,000 and a soccer kit.

Mulodi Freedom Birds went home with R1,500 and a soccer kit after they managed to reach the top-6 round. Although they were also booted out in the top-6 stage, Malale D Boys were watching as the other clubs received their prizes. Malale’s prize was withheld, following their bad conduct in the tournament. According to the organisers of the tournament, the players and fans of Malale had forced the referee to stop the game between Berea FC and Tshilavulu Elite on several occasions by invading the pitch while the game was in progress.

Madridtas FC’s prize money was also withheld for acts of misconduct. Madridtas had failed to honour their match against Domboni Sunshine. Teams that could not go beyond the top-12 round were each given R1,000 while the remaining teams were each given a consolation prize of R500. Forty-eight teams from around Vhembe took part in the tournament.

Date:12 October 2023

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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