Copperbelt, Tuks hit the big league

COPPERBELT know how to host a party. They bagged promotion, alongside the University of Pretoria, to the Hollywoodbets Super League on home soil.

In the Sasol League National Champs play-off semi-final yesterday at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, Copperbelt met NWU Tawana, while UP faced Lindelani.

Copperbelt beat NWU Tawana 2-1 in the first semifinal before Tuks beat Lindelani 4-2 on penalties after the game ended 1-1 in regulation time. Copperbelt and Tuks’ progression to tomorrow’s final at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium means that they are in line to be crowned national champions and are promoted to the Super League. The champion will receive a trophy and R200 000 prize money.

Yesterday the hosts grabbed the bull by the horns in the first semi-final as Nomphelo Yakuphi gave the Limpopo side a 1-0 half-time lead. She grabbed her brace early in the second half and Tawana were forced to dig deep.

The Queens of North West pulled one back through Lerato Adams.

In the other semi-final, Tuks were favourites to win – they had a 100% record in the group stage, winning both matches by 3-0.

But the university side trailed early in the first half after Anele Miya thundered home a set piece. However, coach Maude Khumalo’s ladies took charge of possession as Lindelani held on. Gugu Dhlamini finally unlocked Lindelani’s defence on the stroke of half-time with a solo run that saw the teams tied at 1-1 during the break.

UP continued to dominate in the second half, but they were let down by poor supply up front and the fans called for the introduction of Mpho Nkadimeng. Khumalo heeded the call, but Nkadimeng wasn’t influential as the two teams went into the penalty shootout where Tuks prevailed 4-2.