The football results of the Easter weekend left football fans shocked and confused when the expected prize giving was promptly postponed after a cup final. This happened at the Mkhondo Easter Challenge final between Shining Stars FC and Total Football United on Monday 10 April 2023 at the Mandla Magudulela Stadium, Thandukukhanya in Mkhondo.
The final was an entertaining six goal thriller and feast for Total Football United who thrashed Shining Stars 6-0 in the final. The recently crowned PG Bison Knockout Cup champions continued where they left off with a pressing game plan, forcing opponents to commit errors and scoring early goals. It took them nine (9) minutes to find the back of the net through a header by Qiniso Mdluli. The led 2-0 ten minutes later when striker Sakhamuzi ‘Ghost’ Msibi beat an offside trap to slot home the second goal. The game momentum did not stop or dip until half time, it was pure football entertainment.
The 2nd half began in the same manner as the 1st half, yes Total Football United scored the 3rd goal of the match soon after the restart. The goal was scored by defender Thabiso Sibiya. The skipper capitalized on the unsuspecting Shining Stars defence and found himself one on one with the keeper before putting the ball inside the net. The fourth goal came in the 20th minute of the 2nd half when Qiniso Mdluli completed his brace. Some fans were seen leaving the stadium after the fourth goal. Shining Stars did not stop attacking in the game but their efforts were stopped by on form keeper Kwanele Mavuso.
“A protest has been launched and money paid as per the rules. This forces us to postpone the prize giving until this matter is resolved.”
The match briefly stopped when Shining Stars FC brought on their protest for signing by both team captains. Soon after Total Football United found the 5th goal when left back Nkosinaye Dladla curled the ball with his right foot coming from the left flank, the keeper did not believe it. The 6th and final goal to dim the light for Shining Stars came 5 minutes before full time to end the match 6-0. It was the first final to end with 6 goals for one side in the seven (7) year history of the Mkhondo Easter Challenge tournament in Thandukukhanya, Mkhondo. As it is now history, the game was the first senior division final to have a protest leading to postponement of a prize giving.
The celebrations were halted by the protest action lodged by Shining Stars FC. The club alleged that Total Football United used two (2) players that are registered at other leagues.
The players are goalkeeper Kwanele ‘Skwirra’ Mavuso and midfielder Musa ‘Mabhereza’ Vilane. They also alleged that Sakhamuzi ‘Ghost’ Msibi used fraudulent documents to register in the Thandukukhanya Promotion League.
It may not be the first time to witness protest action in a cup final match, but it was the first time that a prize giving had to be postponed. A similar incident happened last year during a Vumbuka Trust Cup Under 15 final match between First Touch Football against Silver Stars FC at Kempville Stadium. Both teams protested against each other for using over aged players. The Mkhondo Local Football Association Disciplinary Committee found both teams to be in violation of the rules. It ruled that the then final score should remain as it was. The prize giving continued, First Touch Football were crowned champions of the division with both clubs handed a warning.
This time around there was no time to get into the boardroom to deal with the case immediately, hence the Mkhondo LFA decided to postpone the prize giving. The DC chair Mr Mduduzi ‘Johnny’ Nkosi asked the clubs to be patient as they deal with the issue. “A protest has been launched and money paid as per the rules. This forces us to postpone the prize giving until this matter is resolved. We will call the club to appear before the DC in due course,” he said.
There has been a lot of debate about the protest with some saying Total Football United won the game convincingly and should be given the trophy. Some have stood with Shining Stars arguing that protests are part of the game. There are also those questioning the use of league rules during tournaments. The debate will probably continue until a decision is made, a decision which will prolong or start a new debate, “kusazokhulunywa’ strong.