The Vhembe-based team, Benny´s Care Soccer Academy, was crowned as the new provincial champion of the Copa Coca-Cola U/18 school soccer development tournament, after they managed to beat Makgoka High 5-4. The winners had to be determined by means of a penalty shoot-out, after the teams played to a goalless draw in the final match played at Malamulele stadium on Saturday.

The Makgoka team´s lack of luck became evident in the 7th minute, when Thabiso Kutumela´s well-timed shot missed the poles by a mere inch. Benny´s had an ideal opportunity to score in the 10th minute, but Clement Maphaba shot wide with the goalkeeper, Mabotja Cheune, already out of position. In the 16th minute, Rendani Galedzane took a free kick, but missed the pole by inches.

The local boys soon realised that it was not their day when their goal poacher, Theo Phophi, missed a fortune in the 24th minute. The scoreboard was still blank at the break.

Makgoka started the second half at a very fast pace, giving their opponents not a moment to breathe.The local side should have scored in the 47th minute, but their striker, Benet Manaula, hesitated for too long and the defence managed to clear the ball. Nteo Lebelo of Makgoka did not live up to expectations as he was tightly marked.

Benny´s showed a spirit of commitment from the onset, with their mid -fielders distributing some telling passes to the front-runners. Their right flank, Andani Nemalili, was unfortunate in the 55th minute when he shot wide from close range.

It was their demon striker, Mafemani Hlungwani, whose beautiful pass was well received by Rendani Galedzane, who tried his luck from the outside the box. The ball hit the woodwork and bounced back into the field of play. At the end of nregular time, the score was 0-0 and the nerve-racking penalty shoot-out followed. Benny´s strikers kept their cool and won the shoot-out 5-4.

Benny´s will now represent the province in the national championship, which will be played at Kimberley from 31 to 2 April.

After the match, the South African School Football Association (Sasfa) president, Mandla “Shoes” Mazibuko, said everything started at school level and it was very important for them to encourage and nurture young players. “We need to work hard together to develop future champions. We know that our partnership with Sasfa will help to deliver more players like Thulani Serero and Steven Pienaar," he said.