Happy Fighters wear the Dolo crown

Tshidzini Happy Fighters proved all the critics wrong when they rose to the occasion and beat Gaba Union Fighters 2-1 in the final of the Thikhathali Dolo Godfrey Mammburu Soccer Tournament at the Tshifudi Stadium on Sunday.

Union Fighters were unstoppable in the first 20 minutes, but they failed to convert their chances into goals. Realizing that the opponents were all over them, Happy Fighters tried to disorganize them by playing aerial balls from behind. Union Fighters steadily lost shape in the middle of the park as the game progressed. That gave Happy Fighters chance to recover and they started to take the game to the opposition.

It took Happy Fighters 34 minutes to open their account. Ndivhuwo Sirwaili capitalized on the opponents’ clearing error and blasted in a rocket from close range to give his side a 1-0 half-time lead.

Union Fighters replaced Thusani Magavha and Fhulufhelo Netshilaphala with Kwinda Mukhethoni and Gudani Nemakonde respectively in the opening minutes of the last half. Happy Fighters started to use delaying tactics as one of many way to frustrate Gaba. The wheel of fortune turned in favour of Happy Fighters again in the 67th minute. This time around, Rudzani Swirwali finished off a rebound after the keeper of Gaba, Orifha Nelufule, palmed the ball back into the field of play.

Gaba suffered a big blow when their defender, Thambatshira Moleba, was taken to hospital with a fractured elbow. A defender of Happy Fighters handled the ball within the box. That prompted the referee, Mr Olani Kwinda, to award a penalty to Gaba. Meshack Muravha scored from the white spot. Fighters managed to maintain their lead until the final whistle was blown.

Sport - Date: 01 April 2016

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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