The mighty Amajita beat the Pretoria heat and a disciplined approach from defending champions Zambia to run out 5-4 winners in the final of the Vodacom Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) under 20 championships, at the Caledonian stadium on Saturday.

Striving to win their first Vodacom Cosafa under 20 championship title since 2001, Orlando Pirates goal machine Lebohang Mokoena brought the home crowd to their feet as he pierced the Zambian defence on two occasions in quick succession, before the visitors responded, scoring two goals within a minute courtesy of Fred Yumba and Rainford Kalaba respectively.

As the Zambians seemed to be gaining in confidence, Zambian goalkeeper Danny Munyao found himself beaten for the third time in 45 minutes, through a goal by Ama-Tuks striker Lerato Chabangu, which allowed the hosts to hold a 3-2 advantage at halftime.

Playing in front of a host of dignitaries including Cosafa President Ishmael Bhamjee, SA Football Association boss Molefi Oliphant and Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter and taking heart of Amajita caretaker-coach Steve Khompela’s halftime ‘words of wisdom’ pep talk, the Amajita players stepped up their work-rate at the start of the second period, with Daine Klate’s goal, putting the home side into an unbeatable lead in the minds of most soccer enthusiasts.

However, Zambia proved why they started the match as the favourites, and for a quarter of an hour during the second half’s action, the Amajita defence seemed to lose its solid formation, with Zambians Kalaba and Whyson Phiri, scoring with ease past SA goalkeeper Lance Nieuwenhuis , to bring about a sudden silence among the partisan crowd.

But it was the Amajita who put the fans back into party mood as Mokoena scored his third goal of the afternoon, and a swift blow on the whistle by Malawian referee Patrick Kapanga, indicated fulltime, and the crowning of the new Vodacom Cosafa under 20 champions in the form of the mighty Amajita, as the champagne flowed.

Chabangu brought a further award the way of the rainbow nation, as his tournament haul of seven goals, earned him the Top Goalscorer of the Tournament award, while Kalaba found some form of consolation for the disappointed Zambian team, as he collected the Player of the Tournament award.

Angolan goal-minder Mario Hipolito was named as the Goalkeeper of the Tournament.