Defenders to fly Limpopo flag in KwaZulu-Natal

LIMPOPO- Mpheni Home Defenders were crowned as the champions of the Limpopo Safa ABC Motsepe Cup when they managed to beat The Dolphins FC 1-0 in their provincial play-off promotional match at a packed Oscar Mphetha Stadium at University of Limpopo on Sunday.

Defenders will represent the province in the national play-offs to be held in KwaZulu-Natal from July 5-11.

The absence of Defenders midfielder and striker Ernest Munyadziwa, was evident from the start. Munyadziwa watched the game from the grandstand, due to an injury.

The Dolphins threatened to score in the seventh minute. Their midfielder, Phuti Maifo, rounded up the Defenders defender, Fisters Magodimisa, unleashing a volley.

The ball hit the woodwork and bounced back into the field of play. Defenders players used their height advantage to win the aerial balls from behind. Instead of playing carpet football when they were in possession, Dolphins committed the blunder of volleying the balls from the middle of the field.

Dolphins had nobody else to blame for the defeat as they squandered numerous scoring chances throughout the game. Their second player to cause an upset was veteran player, Katlego Mashego. In the 14th minute, he received a pre-cooked pass from Thabo Molekwa from just outside the box. Instead of picking his spot and unleashing quickly, Mashego held onto the ball for far too long, eventually losing possession.

Muhlupi Mavundla committed a regrettable blunder some time later, by shooting wide from the edge of the box with the keeper already beaten.

Things then turned against Dolphins when Defenders were awarded a free kick outside the box early in the second half.

Freedom Nyundu caught Dolphins keeper Hlaisane Ntimane napping, and Gift Nemutandani beat the keeper with the ball to seal the game. Dolphins added to their starting lineup soon afterwards, but that did not change the score line.