Tag: Mkhondo Promotion League

Promotion League season ends with spectacular playoff tournament.

The 2022/23 season of the Mkhondo Promotion League ended with a spectacular playoff tournament featuring six league champions battling to become the undisputed kings of Mkhondo. Total Football United FC reigned supreme by defeating Amabhubesi FC 4-3 on penalties in the final played at Nohhemu Sport Ground, kwaNgema on Sunday 2 July 2023. The win confirmed the team’s status of being the undisputed champions of Mkhondo.

The two-day Mkhondo Promotional Playoffs took place on 1st & 2nd July 2023 at Nohhemu Sport Ground, kwaNgema about 35 kilometres from the Mkhondo CBD. The six champions were divided into groups of two i.e. Group A&B. Winning the group meant a place in the final and qualification to the Regional Playoffs. Group A consisted of Total Football United FC representing Thandukukhanya Sub LFA, Black Lion FC from Sulphur Springs Sub LFA and Rangers FC from Simakade Sub LFA.

Group B consisted of Amabhubesi FC from Amsterdam Sub LFA, Killers FC from Ngema-Dirkiesdorp Sub LFA and Al Ahly FC from the newly established Commondale Sub LFA. The Commondale Sub LFA participated for the first time after joining the Mkhondo Local Football Association at the start of the 2022/23 season. Al Ahly FC represented the newly established league very well, and judging by the club’s performance the Commondale based league will be a force to be reckoned with in the future. Al Ahly drew against Amabhubesi FC and lost to host club Killers FC 2-0 but gave a good performance by debutants.

Amabhubesi FC attacker Simiso Nkosi won player of the tournament at the Mkhondo Local Football Association Playoffs prize giving held at Nohhemu Ground on Sunday 2 July 2023.

“We promise next time we will give more support. The local mines are willing to assist football development in the area if we approach them correctly.”

The final was a repeat of the 2022 PG Bison Knockout final where Total Football United FC won 4-2 against Amabhubesi. Amabhubesi FC opened the scoresheet via a well taken goal by Kwanele Khumalo in the 40th minute of the 1st half, taking a 1-0 lead into half time.

Shortly After the restart Total Football United got a free kick outside the box. A well taken free kick by Kwanele ‘Demba’ Gule flew straight into the net sending the Total Football faithful into celebration. The beautiful free kick was the last open play goal to be scored at the tournament. It is probably the most talked about goal this season right now. Total Football United keeper Skwira Mavuso saved two penalties helping his side to a 4-3 victory and the Mkhondo Promotion League championship. It is the second consecutive final to be decided on penalties after last season’s final between Total Football United against Ajax Sweepers FC. Ironically Ajax Sweepers went on to qualify for the Men Regional League.

Mkhuseli ‘Kesi’ Vilakazi won top goalscorer award at the Mkhondo LFA Playoffs prize giving held at Nohhemu Ground on Sunday 2 July 2023. Kesi scored two goals for Black Lion FC in the tournament.

The 2022/23 champions received a trophy and gold medals while the runners-up Amabhubesi FC received silver medals. There were also individual trophies on offer by the Mkhondo Local Football Association. The player of the tournament went to Amabhubesi FC attacker Smiso Nkosi.

The top goal scorer award was taken by Mthuliseni ‘Kesi’ Vilakazi who scored 2 goals for Black Lion FC. The goalkeeper of the tournament award went to Sandile Vilakazi of Al Ahly FC. Thokozani ‘TK’ Hlatshwayo won the coach of the tournament for guiding his team to victory. It is a well-deserved award for the coach who has won every important trophy this season.

The seasoned coach won the Mkhondo Easter Games and PG Knockout Cup before claiming the Mkhondo Promotion League championship.Beside the lack of sponsorship towards the tournament, support was given to the tournament hosts Ngema-Dirkiesdorp Sub LFA by local ward councillor Cllr. Mlamuli Mbatha who made sure there was sound system at the venue and tournament match ball.

Thokozani ‘TK’ Hlatshwayo won coach of the tournament at the MKLFA Playoffs prize giving held at Nohhemu Ground on Sunday 2 July 2023. The coach led his team Total Football United FC to a second consecutive Mkhondo Promotion League championship.

Cllr. Mbatha apologized for not providing more for the tournament but promised to continue supporting sport activities in the area. “We are happy as Ward 3 to host such a beautiful tournament. We promise next time we will give more support. The local mines are willing to assist football development in the area if we approach them correctly”. He also gave word of support at the prize giving promising to work with the association to get sponsors from local business. “Congratulations for reaching the stage of the league. We are happy that you are going to represent all of us as Mkhondo, good luck to both teams,” he concluded to loud applause.

The champions and runners-up have one more hurdle to go through before getting Promotion to the Gert Sibande Men Regional League. The two teams will be involved in the Gert Sibande Promotional Playoffs against teams from Msukaligwa LFA. They will each play a single match that will decide if they get promoted or not. The Regional Playoffs are set for Sunday 16 July 2023 at the much-loved Mandla Magudulela Stadium, Thandukukhanya in Mkhondo.

Mkhondo Champions to battle it out at the playoffs.

The Mkhondo Promotion League 2022/23 season wraps up this weekend with the Promotional Playoffs featuring six (6) league champions. The most important tournament of the league season will take place on Saturday, 01 & and Sunday, 02 July 2023, at Nohhemu Sport Ground, Ngema Trust.  A total of Six (6) teams made it to the playoffs after attaining top position in their respective leagues. They are coming to the playoffs as champions.

The long journey began in August 2022 with a total of eighty-two (82) teams, all affiliated to the Mkhondo Local Football Association. The teams are closer their destination, which is promotion to the higher league. The teams were all competing for the top position which they attained in their respective leagues, but now it is the ultimate stage. The battle of champions.

The competing teams include former Mkhondo Promotion League champions and top favourites Total Football United FC. The Thandukukhanya Promotion League champions are drawn in group A along with playoffs debutants Rangers FC from Simakade Sub LFA. Black Lion FC is returning to the playoffs for the 3rd time and might be the surprise package coming as underdogs into the tournament. The Sulphur Springs champions are drawn group A.

Group B is headlined by host club Killers FC who qualified after winning Ngema-Dirkiesdorp Promotion League for the first time. The club dethroned three-time champions Kunene FC and are the oldest club in the tournament. Amabhubesi FC from Amsterdam Promotion League will be making their 3rd appearance at the playoffs. They will play their opening game against tournament debutants Al Ahly FC from Commondale. The club comes from the new Commondale Promotion League stream which was playing league football from the first time in the 2022/23 season.

The top two teams to reach the final will progress to the Gert Sibande Promotional playoffs. At the Regional playoffs the top two teams will play against two clubs from Msukaligwa LFA for the two available spots in the 2023/24 season. The Gert Sibande FA will be introducing a new 16-team league stream that will feature teams from Mkhondo and Msukaligwa LFA. The teams will no longer travel more than 100 kilometres to play Regional League matches. The teams that will qualify will definitely be relieved by this decision especially when it comes to travelling.

The Mkhondo Promotion League kick off on Saturday morning with Rangers FC taking on tournament favourites Total Football United FC at 9am. They will be followed by Amabhubesi FC vs Al Ahly FC of Group B at 11am.

Mkhondo Promotion League 2022/23 season Promotional Playoffs 2023 taking place at Nohhemu Sports Ground, kwaNgema in Mkhondo under the Gert Sibande Region of Mpumalanga.

Total Football United stamped their authority in the local game: Clean sweep at the PG Bison Knockout Cup

Total Football United stamped their authority in the local game by defending the most sought after PG Bison Knockout Cup title they won last year. The club which is managed by strict disciplinarian coach in Thokozani ‘TK’ Hlatshwayo, defeated Amabhubesi FC 4-1 in the football final on Sunday 26 March 2023. The 2023 edition of the annual PG Bison Knockout Cup tournament was held for the second time on the weekend of 25&26 March 2023 at the Kempville Stadium, Mkhondo.

The tournament featured eight (8) teams in both football teams drawn from the Mkhondo Promotion League under administration of the Mkhondo Local Football Association. Six (6) of the clubs were drawn from the leaders of the Mkhondo Promotion League 2022/23 season. Two other clubs, Arsenal Eagles FC and Khumalo Stars FC played a preliminary round to qualify and be part of the top 8 tournament. The two clubs had qualified through the preliminary round for seven (7) clubs residing near PG Bison to make a total of eight (8) teams.

The 1st quarter final featured tournament debutants Al Ahly FC from Commondale Promotion League against Amabhubesi FC from the Amsterdam Promotion League. The debutants won 5-4 on penalties after the teams were locked 1-1 at full time. The 2nd quarter final was the repeat of the 2022 final between Ngema-Dirkiesdorp Promotion League leaders Kunene FC against Total Football United from Thandukukhanya Promotion League. The defending champions comfortably won 3 nil to move into the semi-finals.

Every club wish to be part of the tournament but only champions or league leaders qualify for the biggest tournament at LFA level.

The 3rd quarter final produced an exciting 3-2 victory by Khumalo Stars FC from Amsterdam Promotion League over Amapansula FC representing Simakade Promotion League. The match produced boardroom drama that ended in the boardroom on Saturday night. The clubs protested against each other accusing each one another of using fraudulent registered players, Phumlani Khanyile for Amapansula and Zweli Ngwenya an unused substitute for Khumalo Stars.

Total Football United defender Ntando Mavuso won player of the tournament at the PG Bison KO Cup 2023 on Sunday 26 March 2023 at Kempville Stadium, Mkhondo.

The two teams were disqualified by the Mkhondo LFA Disciplinary Committee after they were found guilty of using double registered players. They were replaced by Amabhubesi FC in the semi-finals. In the 4th quarter final Man FC from Sulphur Springs Promotion League appeared for the 1st time in the tournament. They won 2-1 against Thandukukhanya Promotion League side Arsenal Eagles FC to book their place in the semi-finals.

In the semi-finals the defending champions Total Football United made their intentions clear about the cup. They scored two quick goals in the first 10 minutes against tournament debutants Al Ahly FC. The debutants tried to come back with a goal in the 1st half taking the match to 2-1 at half time. After the break Total Football United added two more goals to lead comfortably in the 2nd half by 3 goals to one, before a late goal by Al Ahly to end the match 4-2 at full time. Amabhubesi FC used the second chance to roar louder after the disqualification of Amapansula and Khumalo Stars FC. The lions took the chance with both hands by defeating the other tournament debutants Man FC 3-2 to book their place in the final. They could have scored more goals but their attack was wasteful.

When the final came everyone in the stadium knew that Total Football United would look for an early goal. Amabhubesi FC needed to hold on and not concede early to be safe, but it took captain fantastic Thabiso ‘Tyso’ Sibiya just 5 minutes to score the first goal with a half volley inside the box. Striker Sakhamuzi Msibi added a second goal 4 minutes later. They were already leading 2-0 in the first 10 minutes of the final. Amabhubesi coach Nkosinathi “Mgazi”Hlatshwayo was fuming at the bench. He had previously said he will guard against the early attack of Total Football United. Five minutes later Amabhubesi FC pulled one goal back via a well taken free kick by Sergio. This seem to rejuvenate Amabhubesi as they continued to force an equaliser but Total Football keeper Kwanele Mavuso was on tip top form on goals, allowing none till the end of the 1st half.

Kwanele Mavuso won goalkeeper of the tournament for the 2nd time at the PG Bison KO Cup 2023 held on Sunday 26 March 2023 at Kempville Stadium, Mkhondo. He is flanked by PG Bison manager Mr. Christo & CLO Mr. Nkosingiphile Hlatshwayo.

The 2nd half began the same way but this time only two goals were scored. Sakhamuzi Msibi took advantage of a loose ball in the box by a sleeping defence to slot his 6th goal of the tournament. The game had just restarted for 5 minutes in the 2nd half, the score already 3-1 to the defending champions.

A few minutes later Amabhubesi committed an unnecessary foul in the opponents half resulting in a free kick. Thabiso Sibiya scooped the ball straight to the goalkeeper’s hands but the keeper failed to do a simple catch of the ball, 4-1 was the score. The game was nonetheless entertaining till the end irrespective of the 4-1 scoresheet. Both sides created and missed chances until it ended 4-1 to eventual champions led by the uncompromising Mr. Thokozani ‘TK’ Hlatshwayo.

They walked away with the trophy, gold medals, two jersey kits and a cool R15 000 cash. The runners up Amabhubesi FC received silver medals, two jersey kits and R10 000. The R5000 cash prize was shared among the two semi-finalists Man FC and Kunene FC who both received R2500. The club also dominated the tournament individual awards, taking all that was on offer on the day. The player of the tournament went to defender Ntando “Spectacular” Mavuso (17). The goalkeeper of the tournament was won by the same player that won it last year, Kwanele “Skwirra” Mavuso. The top goal scorer award went to Sakhamuzi ‘Ghost’ Msibi. The speedy striker netted 2 goals in the final to take up his goal tally to six (6) goals in 3 matches.

Striker Sakhamuzi Msibi won the top goalscorer award at the PG Bison KO Cup 2023 tournament prize giving held on Sunday 26 March 2023 at Kempville Stadium, Mkhondo. He scored 6 goals in 3 games at the tournament.

It was a great tournament for the clubs involved, besides the cash prizes won by the champions, all participating clubs received playing kits, transported to the games and catered for by PG Bison. The fans at the stadium also received meals and soft drinks for the duration of the tournaments.

Every club wish to be part of the tournament but only champions or league leaders qualify for the biggest tournament at LFA level. There has also been talk about establishing a new Sub LFA in the area of PG Bison operations. If that happens a new league stream will be established to cater for clubs residing at Ajax, New Home, Maphepheni, Rustplaas, Derby, Iswepe &Panbult in the Mkhondo Local Municipality.