The Kagiso-based Sir P United and their Sedibeng rivals Major 1 brought the curtain down in a superb fashion when they locked horns in a scintillating Under-20 finals of the 2025 Duku Duku Games Foundation held at the Kagiso Sports Complex on 22nd December 2025.
The finals reflected the truly essence of development and was a pure curtain raiser game that coincided with the historic hard-fought 2-1 Bafana Bafana opening game win against the stubborn Angola in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) campaign.
Despite starting the game on a slow pace, the game gained momentum when Sir P United were awarded a penalty in the first 5 minutes of the first half, resulting in Major 1 lads upping their game and later equalised in the second half forcing the game into a dramatic penalty shootout after a 1-all draw in regulation time.
During the penalty shootout, the penalty kickers imaginary exchange their scoring boots for non-scoring soccer boots, leading to four players from each side missing their spot kicks. It was in the sudden death situation that they [players] realised that they were wearing wrong boots, and that’s when the ball started hitting the back of the net leading to Sir P United winning 7-6.
The tournament started on the 14 December 2025 drew more than 100 teams competing in the U11, U/13, U15, U/17 and U/20 divisions. The finalists in the U/15, U/17 and U/20 received medals, soccer kits while the winners increased their bank balances with cash prizes ranging from R5000, R10 000 and R20000 for U/15, U/17 and U/20 respectively.
The losers received R2000, R5000 and R10 000 respectively. To spice up the tournament and draw more teams, the finalists were also awarded cash prizes ranging from R2000, R5000 and R10000, which to be used as team’s registration fees in the 25/26 SAFA, U/15 and U/17 League season.
The U/11 and U/13 did not receive any cash as they form part of the Foundations development, they instead received soccer equipment’s. The Chairman of the Duku Duku Games Foundation Victor “Speech” Matshogo, was over the moon and elated when speaking about the success of the tournament.
Matshogo said the tournament has far reaching economic spin-off on tourism and economic development for local business people of Kagiso in that it brought teams as far as Limpopo and KwaZulu Natal provinces.
“We are happy as the organisers of the tournament because this has created employment for local people, and it also assisted those involved in tourism for availability of accommodation for teams coming as far as KwaZulu Natal and Limpopo,” Matshogo said.
He concluded that, “The tournament also assisted in bringing soccer scouts from Betway Premier League teams to scout for potential players. For our local soccer players and on development is serves as a feeder tournament for local players to be scouted by local teams, and most importantly, young players in the under 11 and 13 can showcase their talent and skills with a view of playing bigger teams locally.
”He also thanked the sponsors Sepotokele Funerals, Gauteng Department of Sports and Recreation, MMG World, Thanya Productions, that made the tournament a huge success.
The tournament also brought in professional players such as the Kagiso-based SA under 20 player Thato Sibiya, former and current Orlando Pirates midfielder, Issa “The Guiter Men” Sarr and Camren Dansin respectively, Thato “Stigga 8” Letshedi of Polokwane City, former Moroka Swallows midfielder Bareki “Reksen” Lerefolo and Joseph “Duku Duku” Makhanya.
The Finals U/11Young Lions 1 – Tshepisong Young Boys 0U/13Thupa Fela (0) (4)- 0 (3) after extra time U/15Brakpan Spurs 2 – La Fabrica 1U/17Dobsonville Gardens 2 – Queens and Kings 1 U/20 Sir P United (1) (7) – Major 1 (1) (6) after extra time.
Sipho None
Soweto Sunrise News
