Draw takes Baroka into Premiership

AT MOKABA THEY did not win as they promised they would, but Baroka made their coronation as National First Division (NFD) champions a special one as they gained promotion to the Absa Premiership with this draw.

In the end they finished the season on 60 points after their 1-all draw against Milano United, one point ahead of Highlands Park who beat AmaZulu 4-1 in Tembisa to qualify for the promotional play-offs.

And their excited fans responded as any others would in the situation as they rushed onto the field at the final whistle cutting short the team’s celebrations as the players had to rush away into the dressing room.

It took a club official’s concerted plea to have the field cleared after the public announcer and the security officials failed dismally in this regard. With the field clear, the players returned, singing and immediately lifted owner Khurshi Mphahlele and bounced him up and down in celebration.

Silence enveloped the stadium as the players went up to the podium to receive their medals, the reality that their local club will be campaigning in the country’s elite league perhaps yet to sink in for some.

Whistles

But when coach Kgoloko Thobejane, for the first time resplendent in a suit, emerged from his post match interviews whistles reverberated through the sparsely populated Peter Mokaba Stadium.

And then captain Olaleng Shaku collected the trophy and shouts of Phiiiiri echoed through the arena as he lifted it aloft before the champagne flowed and the players ran around to show off their medals.

It was jus reward for a team that worked their socks off all season to be victorious, the fact that they did not win yesterday notwithstanding. That Baroka would win the NFD was never in doubt, the club from GaMphahlele coming in to this match enjoying a three-point lead and a five goal advantage over Highlands Park who would have had to hammer AmaZulu and hope Baroka lose if they were to usurp them.

Sure Highlands Park clobbered AmaZulu 4-1, but Baroka played their part in holding Milano here, their equaliser coming late in the game via the boot of Orlando Pirates-bound Thabiso Kutumela after Siphamandla Sangweni had unselfishly set him up when he could have scored himself.

The strike meant Kutumela captured the Golden Boot as the NFD’s Top Scorer with 18 goals. And he could so easily have had a brace but he had his first half penalty saved by the veteran Lee Langeveldt who was brilliant for Milano.

Milano had threatened to spoil the party when they took the lead just before half-time through Mzwanele Mahashe. And with their defence looking absolutely solid, it appeared they would steal the points to give themselves a chance of making the play-offs.

But once Baroka got into their rhythm, it became clear that Limpopo was set to add a second team into the elite league. They did just that and their fans celebrated way into the early evening with more celebrations no doubt set to happen all week in the village of Seleteng, GaMphahlele.