Thlothlokwe Golden Syrup were crowned champions of the Mopani Champ of Champs playoffs last Sunday.
By: Refilwe Sebola
Bolobedu-based Thlothlokwe Golden Syrup, secured the championship title in this year’s Champ of Champs tournament after defeating rivals Josy United 5-4 on penalties at Sir Val Duncan sports ground in Namakgale last Sunday.
This victory was particularly special as it marked the third playoff appearance for both teams, who had previously secured second and third place in the tournament. Despite their past performance, both teams remained determined to clinch the top spot this time around.
Thlothlokwe’s strategic approach to the tournament was evident from the outset, as they bolstered their technical team with the addition of former Golden City coach Donald Rampedi, who took on the role of analyst.
Rampedi’s detailed analyses of opponents, technical team performance, and game strategies proved instrumental in guiding Thlothlokwe to a more focused and determined performance throughout the tournament. Their journey to the championship included a 2-0 victory over the host team, Phalaborwa Fast Eleven, in their first game and a solid 1-0 win over Maruleng Score Hunters in the following match.
The final match showcased Thlothlokwe’s resilience as they staged an impressive comeback to equalize in the dying minutes of the game via a thunderous shot by Walkie Ngobeni, ultimately securing a thrilling victory in the penalty shootout with a flawless performance.
Looking ahead, Thlothlokwe is now set to represent Mopani in the upcoming Provincial playoffs at Sekhukhune, aiming to carry their winning momentum into the next stage of the competition. Their chairperson Brown Moremi said he had mixed feeling about the victory as he was more focused on the provincial playoffs this weekend.
Thlothlokwe will play their first game of the provincial playoffs this Saturday against P&S Academy of Waterburg at 10h00 and then face Vhembe side FC Basel in their second and last game of the day at 16h00. Their last two games of the tournament will be played on Sunday against the host Royal Pirates of Sekhukhune at 12h00 and FC Inter of Capricorn at 16h00.
The tournament will be played in a mini league point system and the two teams with the most points will automatically be promoted to the ABC Motsepe League.
Here is the full fixture: Saturday: Match no 1: Royal Pirates FC (Sekhukhune) vs FC Basel(Vhembe) 08h00, P&S Academy (Waterburg) vs Thlothlokwe Golden Syrup (Mopani) 10h00, FC Basel vs Royal Pirates 12h00, FC Inter (Capricorn) vs P&S Academy 14h00, Thlothlokwe Golden Syrup vs FC Basel 16h00.
Sunday: Royal Pirates vs P&S Academy 08h00, FC Basel vs FC Inter 10h00, Thlothlokwe Golden Syrup vs Royal Pirates 12h00, P&S Academy vs FC Basel 14h00, FC Inter vs Thlothlokwe Golden Syrup 16h00.