Defending champions knocked out in the last 16 at KwaMahlobo Festive Games
3 January 2019 – There will be a new name on the trophy of the 2018/19 KwaMahlobo Festive Games after defending champions Izinja ze Game were knocked out of the competition in the round of last 16 on a day of high scores, that produced 21 goals in total.
Izinja ze Game were drawn against a tough Mathaithai who rallied back from a goal down to win 3-2 in a very exciting match to round off Day 14 (Thursday, 3 January 2019) of the tournament.
With their victory, Mathaithai completed the top 8 teams after two days of knockout action in the last 16 stage.
The Diepkloof ensemble joined Snake Park Chillers, LNB Tax FC and A to Z who made the Top 8 earlier in the day. Already qualified on Wednesday (2 January) was Ngulube FC, Galacticos, Soweto Super United and Shake It Everyday.
Chillers were the highest scorers on the day when they defeated Gama United 6-3 in a feast of goals, LNB Tax downed Meadowlands Academy 3-2 while A To Z brushed aside Vilakazi Football Academy 2-0.
A draw was conducted immediately after the matches, and produced mouth-watering fixtures in the Top 8, which will be played on Friday, 4 January.
First up will be Galacticos FC against Shake It Everyday (09h00), followed by Ngulube FC vs Mathaithai (11h00).
At 13h00 LNB Tax FC will go toe to toe against A To Z, with Soweto Super United and Snake Park Chillers rounding of the day at 15h00 in what many have dubbed the final before the final.
None of the top 8 teams have won this tournament before.
A further incentive is that there is R200-thousand rand prize money in total up for grabs – R15-thousand rand each for the third and fourth placed teams, R50-thousand rand for the runners up, while the winners will be laughing all the way to the bank with R120-thousand rand.
COMPLETE LAST 16 RESULTS:
DAY 13:
Wednesday, 2 January 2019
| Umswenko | (1) 5 – (1) 6 | Ngulube FC | Pen shootout |
| Amajananda | (1) 3 – (1) 5 | Galacticos | Pen shootout |
| Soweto Super United | 3 – 2 | Meadowlands Juventus | |
| Meadowlands All Stars | 1 – 3 | Shake It Everyday |
DAY 14:
Thursday, 3 January 2019
| Snake Park Chillers | 6 – 3 | Gama United | |
| LNB Tax FC | 3 – 2 | Meadowlands Academy | |
| A to Z | 2 – 0 | Vilakazi Football Academy | |
| Mathaithai | 3 – 2 | Izinja zeGame |
TOP EIGHT FIXTURES:
DAY 15:
Friday, 4 January 2019
| Galacticos | vs | Shake It Everyday | 09h00 |
| Ngulube FC | vs | Mathaithai | 11h00 |
| LNB Tax FC | vs | A to Z | 13h00 |
| Soweto Super United | vs | Snake Park Chillers | 15h00 |
SOURCED FROM THE SAFA WEBSITE.
