Ngwenai Young Chiefs were crowned the champions of the Tshakhuma Soccer Challenge last Saturday.  They beat Mutandani Pull Together 4-2 in the final.

The match was played at the Tshakhuma Malaria grounds. Three teams, Tshakhuma RO United, Ngwenani Young Chiefs and Mutandani Pull Together, took part in the one-day event. According to the organisers, Gwamasenga United Brothers, who were supposed to participate in the tournament, pulled out on the day of the tournament, without citing any reason.

Ngwenani Young Chiefs fought hard to beat Tshakhuma RO United 1-0 in the first semifinal. Tshakhuma RO United failed to reach the final stage of the competition when they lost 4-5 to Mutandani Pull Together in the second semifinal.

Ngwenani Young Chiefs were presented with R1 350 during a ceremony that was held at the grounds after the final. The runners-up, Mutandani Pull Together, received R450 while the hosts, Tshakhuma RO United, went home with empty hands.

Young Chiefs threatened to score in the 15th minute, when their vastly experienced midfielder, Tshifhiwa Nedzamba, tried his luck from outside the penalty box. The keeper of Pull Together, Rendani Masindi, executed a brilliant save when he palmed the ball away for a corner kick.

The second half saw Pull Together creating some promising moves from behind, with their strikers fumbling at the goal finish. No goal was seen during regulation time and the winner was determined through a penalty shoot-out. The four goals for Chiefs were scored by Tshimangadzo Mulovhedzi, Eric Mangenzhane, Tshifhiwa Nedzamba and Aluwani Masala. Pull Together converted two through Nathaniel Maise and John Magowe.