Nedbank Cup final: The wait is

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – MAY 19: Fans during the Nedbank Cup, Final match between Maritzburg United and Free State Stars at Cape Town Stadium on May 19, 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Shaun Roy/Gallo Images)

Nedbank Cup final: The wait is over for Free State Stars

Oh, what a night.

Nedbank Cup final: The wait is

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – MAY 19: Fans during the Nedbank Cup, Final match between Maritzburg United and Free State Stars at Cape Town Stadium on May 19, 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Shaun Roy/Gallo Images)

Sithembiso Dlamini’s late strike in the first half handed Free State Stars their first bit of silverware after edging Maritzburg United 1-0 at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night.

It was always going to be a historic night with both teams chasing their first ever cup title, and Ea Lla Koto who last reached the final of South Africa’s version of the FA Cup in 1994, hung on to victory to complete the fairy tale for Luc Eymael and his men.

Dlamini got the breakthrough for Stars a minute before the break on a counter-attack with a first-time strike after finding himself in acres of space.

Besides the winners’ cheque of R6 million, the victory also means that the Bethlehem-based side will play in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – MAY 19: Sthembiso Dlamini of Free State Stars celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Nedbank Cup, Final match between Maritzburg United and Free State Stars at Cape Town Stadium on May 19, 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Shaun Roy/Gallo Images)

Eymael, who took over from Sammy Troughton last August, was relieved that his plan paid off.

We have the Cup you know. You have to win the final and that’s what we did today. We put a plan in place and that was to counter-attack. The goal we scored was a demonstration of the counter-attack.

The Belgian was also over the moon to have guided Free State Stars to their first major Cup win in 24 years.

Everyone will remember that Free State Stars won the Cup and we’re taking the Cup back to the province of the Free State. I’m very happy for the committee, the players, the fans, and I’m happy for my family because since in Africa, this is my fifth trophy.

Maritzburg coach Fadlu Davids, although disappointed, paid tribute to Free State Stars.

Ja, it’s quite frustrating and we have to take it as a team, we can’t blame individuals. These young kids will learn from this and hopefully next season we can correct it.

We made the error and that was their only chance that they had in the match.  But nobody is going to say that Maritzburg had this possession or this chance. Free State Stars are the winners and well done to them, I think they deserve it.