19 June 2018 – Tshakhuma RO na Ndilani (TRON) defeated Berea FC 5-4 in a penalty shootout in the Vhembe SAB Champ of Champs final on Sunday at Makhuvha Stadium following a two all draw in regular time.
After his heroic performances in the semi-final against Mpheni Home Defenders, skipper, Khuthadzo Mukomafhedzi produced yet another match-winning performance in the final when he saved a Juliet Nguvhane’s penalty and then converteda spot kick to book a place for TRON in the provincial playoffs.
In a tightly contested game of football, it wasn’t until the23rdminute thatthe deadlock was broken. One of the outstanding performers of the tournament Pfariso Mukoma gave Berea FC the lead midway through the first half with his fourth goal of the tournament.
TRON started the second half exceptionally well scoring twice in the opening seven minutes of the second half through Dakalo Nemakonde and the prolific Rinaye Madzhuta. The goals completelychanged the complexion of the game.
Aubrey Ndou almost gifted TRON a third goal with nine minutes left on the clock when his attempted clearance fell for Nemakonde inside the inner box who was let down by his poor first touch.
Berea were rewarded for their never say die attitude in the eighty-fourth minute with an equaliser when the veteran striker Edwin Ramphabana finished from close range to take the game to penalties.
TRON will represent Vhembe region in the provincial play-offs to be held in the Mopani region later this month or early July.