SEDIBENG – Local heroes Beke Le Beke FC have written their names into Gauteng kasi football history after winning the Kasi Champ of Champs title in Daveyton on Sunday.
The Sebokeng team beat Rinkase FC 5-4 on penalties following a tense 1-1 draw in the final.
Fresh from winning the Duku Duku Tournament in the Vaal, Beke Le Beke arrived at the Philly Games aiming to prove their skill on a bigger stage.
To reach the main tournament, only champions from recognised partner competitions earned the right to play in the qualifiers, where the Sebokeng side won all three of their matches.
Head coach Xolani Becker Cwebe explained that the club made a bold sacrifice to pull out of the Relebohile Games to focus fully on the championship.
The coach admitted the decision to withdraw from the Relebohile Mofokeng Games and Konka Tournament despite winning several games was a calculated gamble.
“We had to sacrifice one tournament because our focus was on this competition. As back-to-back Vaal champions, we wanted to test ourselves on a much bigger stage. In recent years we were knocked out in the semi-finals, so this time our mission was to finish the job,” Cwebe told Ster.
The journey to the final was far from easy. Facing top clubs from Durban, Hammanskraal and Thembisa, Beke Le Beke started the group stage with a draw and a defeat.
With their tournament hopes hanging by a thread, they bounced back in style by scoring four goals in their final group match to reach the knockout rounds.
The drama continued in the semi-finals, where they played out a goalless draw against Skepe Nketole before winning yet another penalty shootout.
This led to the blockbuster final against Rinkase FC. With the score locked at 1-1 after regulation time, Beke Le Beke kept their nerve from the penalty spot to clinch a 5-4 victory, sparking wild celebrations among their travelling supporters from the Vaal.
Coach Cwebe credited the historic triumph to keeping faith in the same group of players who had consistently delivered silverware and won the qualifiers together.
“We didn’t bring in additional players because these are the players who have been winning trophies for us. We won two tournaments and the qualifiers with the same group,” said Cwebe.
Swallowed by happiness, Coach Cwebe thanked the Chairman of the team, Pule Sailor Seseng and the entire Vaalians for supporting them during the marches.
“This victory is not only for die-hard fans of Beke Le Beke, but the entire Vaal community who supported us during our matches. Also, I would like to thank the chairman of the team for believing in us and affording the team an opportunity to grow,” he concluded.
