Tag: Mkhondo Promotional Playoffs

by admin

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.

by Ntokozo Simelane

Breaking News: League ends in dramatic fashion

The champions of Thandukukhanya Promotion League Stream A for the 2021/22 season has been decided in a dramatic fashion. This happened after the Mkhondo LFA Disciplinary Committee ruled that the match between Comet Riders FC vs Mara Mara FC will not be replayed. The decision was taken earlier this evening (Tuesday 31 May 2022). This effectively means that the club from Ajax will be going to the playoffs for the second time in the club’s history.

The stream A champions won the league on goal difference having tied with Comet Riders FC on 56 points after 22 matches played. Ajax Sweepers scored 66 goals conceding 18 making out a goal difference of +48 goals. Their rivals to the title Comet Riders FC scored 64 goals conceding 23 and ended up with a +41 goal difference. Both clubs won eighteen (18) matches drawing two (2) and only losing two (2) games apiece.

At the disciplinary hearing of the Mkhondo LFA held on Tuesday evening (31 May 2022) Comet Riders FC was represented by Coach Oliver Nkosi. Mara Mara FC was also present represented by club Owner Mr Bazooka Ntuli. The chairperson of the disciplinary committee Mr Mduduzi “Johnny’ Nkosi gave both parties a chance to explain the events that led to their match being called off. The match in question was a rescheduled league match on Saturday 7 May 2022 which played at Kwantombazana Ground, Thandukukhanya. The report received by the association was that the match did not finish because it became dark with three (3) minutes left of play. This raised suspicion which led to an investigation by the LFA hence the appearance of the clubs.

The LFA will have to investigate further otherwise we risk staining our reputation

The evidence presented by both clubs was the same with very few contradictions. It was found that the match did kick-off at the correct time of 3:30pm on Saturday afternoon and that the 2nd half began at 3:35. The disciplinary committee found that there could not be any justification of saying the match did not finish because it was dark and that there was still three (3) minutes left. Speaking to the chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee Mr Johnny Nkosi said this matter will be treated with the utmost care and will be investigated further because it has characteristics of match fixing. “We have reason to suspect that this match and a few others in both streams of Thandukukhanya Promotion League were not done correct. The LFA will have to investigate further otherwise we risk staining our reputation,” he said.

Ajax Sweepers FC will join five (5) other champions on Wednesday afternoon at the draw for the Mkhondo Promotion League 2021/22 season Promotional Playoffs. The others are:

  1. Amsterdam Promotion League champs Amabhubesi FC
  2. Ngema-Dirkiesdorp Promotion League champs Kunene FC
  3. Newly formed stream Simakade Promotion League champs Juventus FC
  4. Siyethemba Promotion League champs Black Lion FC
  5. Thandukukhanya Promotion League Stream B champions Total Football United FC

The 2022 Mkhondo Promotional Playoffs will be played this weekend on 04&05 June 2022 at Emoyeni Stadium, Amsterdam in the Mkhondo Local Municipality.