Western Stars were crowned as the new champions of Africa Hardware (Soutpansberg Stream), after they beat Tshikhwani Stone Breakers 2-0 in the final played at the Ravele grounds on Saturday, 6 August.

Breakers had nobody to blame for the defeat but themselves. They squanderd numerous obvious chances in the first half and their leading goal scorer, Tshililo Ramakholo, could not live up to his reputation. He was contained by Oscar Ramantswana.

Tshililo Nkanyamba and Raymond Thenga of Breakers would have scored more than twice each, had it not been for the fact that it was not their day.

Breakers were matching their opponents pound for pound in the first half, but their original stamina faded as the going became tough. The supporters of Breakers started to boo their tall striker, Raymond Thenga, after he received a neat pass from Tshililo Ramakholo and shot wide with keeper Tshimangadzo Masala already beaten.

The guys who were giving the Breakers defence a terrible headache were Lufuno Ndou and Shane Mutobvu. Ndou picked up a long-range shot from the centre line and left the keeper, Nthupheni Ramagoma, flat footed. After the goal, the match stopped for five minutes as the players of the opposing team accused the referee of favouritism.

Raymond Thenga should have equalised when the match was 78 minutes old, but his shot was saved by the keeper. The second goal was scored by the Shane Mutobvu after a he finished off a pre-cooked pass from Oscar Ramantswana in the dying minutes.

After the match, Western Stars received R4 000 and a floating trophy. Tshikhwani Stone Breakers received R2 500. The two teams that lost in the semi-finals, Maebane Young Eagles and Madodonga Limpopo Professionals, collected R1 500 each.