Tshatshingo Potholes narrowly beat Makwarani Frelimo Boys 1-0 at the Muhuyu grounds on Sunday to become the new NJ Munyamela Soccer Challenge champions.

Frelimo Boys were lucky not to have conceded an avalanche of goals in the match as Potholes were by far the better side when it came to possession of the ball. Potholes squandered three obvious chances within the first 15 minutes. Tshifhambano Ramudingane went loose from the right corner and unleashed a volley from the edge of the box in the eighth minute. The ball hit the crossbar and bounced outside the field of play for a goal kick.

Potholes continued to pressure Frelimo Boys. Their centre forward, Otanganwedzwa Radamba, tried his luck from the 25-meter area. The ball missed the goal mouth by inches, much to the fans’ disappointment. Potholes did not lose hope, despite all the odds. They continued to play attacking football for the remaining part of the first half.

Potholes fortified their defence by replacing Dakalo Tshikosi with Gundo Netshiheni earlier in the last half. The replacement proved to be a clever move on the part of the Potholes’ technical team as Netshiheni formed a deadly combination with Salthiel Rembuluwani at the far back. The only time when Frelimo Boys came close to scoring was when Takalani Rasikhinya beat the offside trap and shot wide from close range with the keeper already beaten.

The goal which separated the boys from the men came in the 78th minute. A substitute, Thavha Netshidzivhe, blasted in a rocket from the left corner, following a square pass from Tshenzhelani Maboho.

Potholes played defensive football for the remaining part of the game. They were presented with cash prize of R2500 after the game.