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Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
BLACK Swallows ended Shooting Stars’ hopes of a third football title at the Moyo K Cup when they won the 2020 edition with a 4-1 on penalties at a well-attended final at Badala Business Centre in Inyathi on New Year’s Day.
The final, watched by a crowd of close to 1 000 people failed to produce goals and had to be decided on penalties where Swallows were triumphant.
Shooting Stars, a team Highlanders striker Prince Dube played for during his days in Inyathi, had won the competition for two years in a row. It was evident that Shooting Stars would not have a stroll in the park as they sought to defend their title when they needed penalties to overcome Inyathi Rovers in the first semi-final of the day.
The match ended 1-1 and Shooting Stars went on to win it 4-3 on penalties.
Swallows had made their intentions of winning the tournament for the first time clear when they defeated Bubi 2-0 in the second semi-final of the day to set up a final clash with Shooting Stars. No winner could be found in normal time and the winner had to be found from 12 yards. While the Swallows penalty takers had precision seeing they scored all their four spot kicks, the same could not be said about those tasked with taking penalties for Shooting Stars.
Swallows got R1 200, a full football kit, trophy and gold medals. Shooting Stars pocketed R700 while Bubi and Rovers picked up R300 each.
Three teams took part in the netball, which was taking place for the first time. Maqaqeni were the champions, followed by Shooting Stars and Inyathi Pirates.
Maqaqeni were given a full netball playing uniform which was accompanied by R300 and a trophy. Shooting Stars got R200 and R100 was given to Inyathi Pirates. Now in its seventh year, the annual tournament is bankrolled by the South Africa-based Moyo brothers, Khumbulani and Mphilisi. Khumbulani, the Highlanders South Africa chapter secretary-general owns a construction firm in Mzansi while Mphilisi runs a cross-border transport company. This year, the two brothers poured R15 000 into the Moyo K Cup.
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Bongani Ndlovu