Bizana Pondo Chiefs make local football history
Chiefs became the first team from the small, rural town of Bizana in the Eastern Cape to play in the second tier of South African football, the GladAfrica Championship.
It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.
Football team, Bizana Pondo Chiefs made history when it became the first team from the small, rural town of Bizana in the Eastern Cape to play in the second tier of South African football, the GladAfrica Championship.
They did so in style as they also walked away with a R1 000 000 cheque.
Despite competitive football being stopped in March due to lockdown and Covid-19, they are the most talked about team at the moment.
On Saturday, October 14, Bizana Pondo Chiefs was crowned overall winner of the national playoffs held at Vaal University of Technology.
They faced the test of their lives when they battled it out with Pretoria Callies FC, coached by experienced mentor Sammy Troughton.
Both Chiefs and Callies are new clubs in the GladAfrica Championship. Before reaching the final, Callies defeated Mangaung United 3-1 while Chiefs edged out uMvoti FC 4-3 on penalties after the game had ended scoreless.
Chiefs general manager, Loyiso ‘Tsutsu’ Jokweni said it has been a long but fruitful journey.
He also gave credit to the boys and technical team led by head coach, Tshepo Motsoeneng, a former PSL player.
“When Coach Tshepo joined us last November, we were sixth on the provincial table and we never looked back. Under his guidance we have never lost a game. The only matches we lost were draws because we dropped two points. He might be young but he is experienced in the game,” said Tsutsu.
Chiefs first game in the GladAfrica Championship is away to University of Pretoria at Tuks Stadium on December 5.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
