THE Addo-based Mastrada City FC side lifted the Gqeberha Kasi Games u/21 Soccer Tournament cup by defeating Shining Stars 3–2 on penalties after the game ended in a 1–1 draw during the finals at Zwide Celtics Grounds on Sunday.
The tournament was successfully run by the Mwalimu Youth Development Foundation from January 3 to 7. The tournament started in a round robin stage and ended in a knockout stage.
Mastrada FC booked themselves a berth in the finals by beating Motherwell-side Ezithembel’esithendeni FC 4–3 on penalties during their semi-final that ended in a goalless draw. Stars went through to the finals after eliminating Kariega side New City Stars 2–1 in their semi-final.
Masixole Klaas and Liviwe Frans scored a goal apiece for Stars, while Asamkele Mzati scored City’s consolation goal.
The fans were treated to an exciting running game with both sides searching for their opening goal.
Stars right wing Izibele Makalima sent a long-range salvo to beat Mastrada goalkeeper, Liyakhanya Salava, halfway through the first half. Mastrada FC pressed hard, but Stars’ defence formed a solid wall. Stars went to halftime leading 1–0.
Mastrada came up strongly in the second half, while Stars’ goalkeeper, Liyema Ngqawana, was the busiest of the goal stoppers. In the stroke of time, Sinovuyo Nogampula scored a long-awaited equaliser that forced the game to be decided by penalty shoot-out.
“I am very happy that all the teams played football of high level,” said the tournament director, Thembinkosi Josopu. “There were SAFA NMB Regional League team scouts and MultiChoice Diski Challenge scouts who discovered that the players displayed immense talent. Some teams that participated came from Addo, Motherwell, New Brighton and Kariega. It shows that the tournament is no longer played by ZWIFA teams. It was an incident-free tournament and we will run it next year.”
Mastrada City went home with new kit, R6 000 and gold medals, while Shining Stars received kit, R3 000 and silver medals.
