Ajax crowned Mvuthu New Year’s Eve Cup champions 

BY BHEKIMPILO WEZA

Ajax Football Club beat Mvuthu League champions Dragon 5-4 in a pulsating finale at Sizanani Stadium on Friday to claim the Mvuthu New Year’s Eve Cup.

In a match that lived up to its top billing, Ajax proved why they were among the league’s title contenders with a superb display that left Dragon hapless in a match that attracted a full house Kachechete village.

Ajax could have got the opener in 32^nd minute of the first half, but Brightman Dube’s attempt was thwarted by the evergreen Dragon goalkeeper Njabulo Ndlovu. who pulled a great save to deny the Ajax marksman his first goal of the tournament.

With Ajax bouyed by the presence of guest player Gift Mbweti from the Premier Soccer League champions FC Platinum, the team was unstoppable.

It was a  day well spent day in the office for Dumisani Moyo, the Ajax coach, as Mbweti stepped up to score the deciding spot kick that sent the whole stadium into a frenzy as the team celebrated its first trophy of 2021.

For Dragon it was never their day as they failed to rise to their form that gave them the league title.

They suffered a big blow when their chief striker Mqabuko Ndlovu limped out injured in the second half, leaving them to depend on strikers Ashley Mlotshwa and Abel Dube for the result that never went their way.

After the match, Mlotshwa, labeled as a great player of his generation went on to win the most disciplined player of the tournament.

With other top contenders Red Wipers and Zamalek eliminated, it was all left to the home side to deliver and they did just that with a stellar performance.

For their efforts, Ajax took home US$90, US$25 better than runners up Dragons.

Despite the Ajax win, credit went to league rookies Power Stars who surprised many when they managed to eliminate Zamalek and advance to the semi-finals in which they lost 1-0 to the Dragons.

The tournament’s sponsor Bishop Tshuma, who shelled out US$240 said he wanted to bring communities together through sports