United Artists were crowned the overall champions for the MMK Administrators Soccer League at the Rabali Stadium on Sunday. They beat Rabali Pull Together 1-0 in the final.

The game was played under protest. United Artists lodged a protest with the referee shortly before the game kicked off. In their protest, United Artists alleged that some of the players for Pull Together were not properly registered with the team. The protest did not take Pull Together out of the game as they managed to match the boys from Lufule Village pound for pound in all departments.

Artists threatened to score in the 18th minute. Their dribbling wizard, Thomas “Razor” Makhubele, beat three defenders in a row and unleashed a powerful ground cutter. The ball hit the woodwork and bounced outside the field of play for a goal kick.

Artists were dictating the terms in the last 15 minutes of the first half, but Pull Together managed to absorb the pressure. Rabali Pull Together rectified their mistakes and started to play attacking football in the last half. That forced Artists to play with their backs against the wall for the better part of the last half.

Artists’ all important goal came in the 78th minute. This after Artists were awarded a corner kick. Vutomi Ngomana beat the keeper with a bicycle kick. United Artists frustrated the opponents by volleying from behind in the last 10 minutes of the game.

United Artists were presented with R40 000 and floating trophy during a ceremony that was held shortly after the final whistle. Artists will represent Vhembe Region in the provincial promotional playoffs that will be staged at the Mahwelereg Stadium in Mokopane this weekend.