Free State go from relegation battlers to cup winners
Free State Stars, a club traditionally associated with relegation battles, won the South African FA Cup for the first time Saturday by edging Maritzburg United 1-0 in the final.
Goodman Dlamini scored the only goal after 44 minutes at Cape Town Stadium, clinically hammering the ball past Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori from outside the box.
The goal was preventable as Maritzburg had a numerical advantage when a long clearance from Stars goalkeeper Thelo Ngobeni dropped in the opposite half of the pitch.
But livewire Sinethemba Jantjie of Stars won possession and Dlamini sprinted undetected to take the pass and display high quality finishing often missing in South African football.
Success was worth seven million rand (about $550,000/465,000 euros) to Stars, who are based in central town Bethlehem, 270 kilometres (168 miles) south of Johannesburg.
It was the first major trophy won by Stars, who were formed in 1977 and are bankrolled by local businessman Michael Mokoena.
Apart from the huge cash prize, Free State qualify for the 2019 CAF Confederation Cup, the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.
For Belgian coach Luc Eymael, a dashing figure at the final in a black suit and shirt with a red tie, it was his fifth trophy since moving to Africa in 2010.
South Africa is his eighth stop after coaching clubs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Algeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Tunisia and Sudan.
He moved to Free State this season after coaching another South African side and apart from the FA Cup, he lifted them to sixth in the league after many seasons fighting relegation.
His tactics against Maritzburg were simple and highly effective -- soak up the pressure with a packed defence and counterattack at high speed.
"Our plan may not have delivered a spectacle, but no one remembers runners-up," said the 58-year-old former Belgian lower-divisions goalkeeper.
"Maritzburg had younger players and more pace, but we countered that with tactics that worked perfectly."
Slight pre-match favourites Maritzburg, who finished fourth in the league, were the victims of several questionable refereeing decisions.
However, the club from eastern city Pietermaritzburg can have no complaints as they wasted several chances, including Siyanda Xulu shooting over from point blank range late in the final.
"Losing was quite frustrating," admitted Maritzburg coach Fadlu Davids, "but we will take it as a team. I am so proud of my boys because they gave everything.
"It was a hard lesson for a team on a steep learning curve. We will learn from this disappointment and, hopefully, win a trophy soon."
The final brought the curtain down on the 2017/2018 South African season in which Mamelodi Sundowns won the league, Wits the League Cup and SuperSport United the Top 8 trophy.