Controversy as Phalaborwa United claim R100k prize
Phalaborwa United won R100 000 at the Shawela tournament after a controversial final against Novela FC ended amid refereeing disputes.
LIMPOPO – Phalaborwa United may have fallen short in the ABC Motsepe League, but the team redeemed itself by securing the R100 000 top prize in one of the toughest tournaments held at Shawela village in Giyani on Sunday, defeating Novela FC under dramatic circumstances.
The final, however, was marred by controversy, with several refereeing decisions sparking outrage among players and spectators.
Penalty decision sparks tension
Tensions escalated when the referee awarded a penalty to Phalaborwa United, allowing them to level the score at 1-1.
Moments later, the situation worsened when Novela FC’s goalkeeper was shown a red card. The goalkeeper refused to leave the field, insisting he had done nothing to warrant dismissal. His refusal brought the match to a standstill, as officials made it clear that play could not continue until he exited the field.
Match halted amid protests
Despite heated protests from Novela FC and their supporters, who accused the officials of bias and unfair treatment, the referees stood firm in their decision.
With the deadlock unresolved and the match unable to continue, officials ultimately ruled that the cup be awarded to Phalaborwa United.
The decision angered some supporters, who claimed the team had been given preferential treatment throughout the tournament.
“First they drew in one of their earlier matches and refused to take penalty shots, saying they were in a rush to another match,” said one of the fans, Thomas Ngobeni.
“Under normal circumstances, they would have been disqualified, but instead they were granted a replay, which they won. And now this, that’s why we’re here today,” he said.
Victory and consolation prizes
Despite the controversy, the victory brought not only financial reward but also restored pride and confidence within the Phalaborwa United squad following their ABC Motsepe League disappointment.
The runners-up walked away with R50 000, while the third- and fourth-placed teams each received R10 000 as consolation prizes.
Tournament supports community upliftment
Meanwhile, the tournament attracted strong teams from across the province, as well as sides from Gauteng and Mpumalanga, making it a highly competitive event.
Speaking before the game started, tournament organiser Archie Shitlhavani said the tournament was about raising funds for the upliftment of organisations in his community.
“Today we will be giving three local non-profit organisations R10 000 each to help uplift their work,” he said.
The beneficiaries are Vakhegula-Vakhegula, a soccer team made up of women pensioners; Xikhumba Disabled Project, which caters to people with disabilities; and Shawela Drop-in Centre, a day-care facility that looks after young children.
