Two Makana SAB league sides will battle it out in the final of the 15-team tournament hosted by City Pirates. Tournament hosts City Pirates will take on Maru this weekend in what promises to be a thrilling match as both sides know each other well.
Two Makana SAB league sides will battle it out in the final of the 15-team tournament hosted by City Pirates. Tournament hosts City Pirates will take on Maru this weekend in what promises to be a thrilling match as both sides know each other well.
The three-day tournament, which was supposed to conclude on Monday, is hosted by the SAB club as a means to raise funds for their travelling during the 2014/15 season.
The winner will walk away with R2 500 prize money along with gold medal trophies and a floating trophy, while the losers will collect R1 500 and medals.
The two sides booked their spots in the finals in different fashions as Maru were made to go all the way to the penalty shoot-out in their semi-final match against Jacaranda Aces.
The sides were locked at 1 all through the 90-minute period. When Maru scored during the first half of the extra time it looked like their path to the semis was cleared.
But a lack of concentration allowed Aces to pull an equaliser right at the death through a penalty as the Maru defender handled inside the box.
In the penalty shoot-out, however, Maru were always ahead as nerves seemed to get the better of Aces, missing three of their spot kicks.
Pirates, on the other hand, were made to sweat but had no problem holding off Young Killers for a 1-0 victory.
The tournament started with round robin fixtures on Saturday with two teams from the four groups making the quarter-finals that were played late on Sunday and completed on Monday.
Tournament organiser Luntu Jela says he was pleased with the turnout of the tournament.
He said he was happy with the reaction he got from all the Grahamstown clubs who made it possible to stage it.
As hosts, City Pirates are eager to take the crown, although they know the final will not be an easy match up.
The two sides last faced each other in last season’s league encounter, with Maru winning the close encounter 3-2.
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