Pirates players celebrate (Gallo)

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Rustenburg - Orlando Pirates retained the Telkom Charity Cup after they defeated Platinum Stars 4-2 on a penalty shootout after both teams were level 1-1 at full time in the final played at a cold and wet Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Saturday night.

But it was a hotly disputed penalty, netted by Rooi Mahamutsa in the 68th minute that earned Pirates a lucky equaliser and took the game into extra time. The final was nothing to write home about as both sides struggled to master the wet conditions.

The big winner was the pitch which held up superbly for both semi-finals and the final, all played in the rain.

However, it became obvious that Kaizer Chiefs fans rule in the North West province. After Bucs defeated Amakhosi on a penalty shootout in the semi-finals, the stadium was half deserted for the final played in freezing, wet conditions and lacked the atmosphere and the passion of the Soweto Derby.

The Chiefs fans who remained cheered the underdogs Stars who earned their place in the final after they beat big spending Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 in the first semi-final.

Bucs coach Ruud Krol fielded a virtually second string side in the final. He stressed before the match that he was using the Charity Cup to prepare his squad for their MTN8 clash against Ajax Cape Town at Ellis Park on Wednesday night.

Stars' new Japanese midfielder Norikazu Murayama scored his first goal on South African soil when he collected a clever through ball from Dillon Sheppard and calmly stroked the ball past Bucs reserve keeper Senzo Meyiwa in the 12th minute to put Stars into a 1-0 lead.

Meyiwa did well in the 25th minute when he fisted a Jabu Mahlangu rocket over his crossbar as Stars looked for the second goal to sink Bucs.

Pirates rarely threatened Stars' goal in a disappointing first half. Bucs' best effort came from a Ndumiso Mabena free kick which sailed over the Stars crossbar on the half hour mark.

Six minutes later, Stars guest striker Alton Meiring shaved the Bucs crossbar with a scorching 30 metre pile driver. Meiring, who is on Moroka Swallows books, is on trial with Stars and should have done his chances of moving the North West based outfit a power of good.

Bucs midfielder Thulasizwe Mbuyane missed the target with a close range header four minutes from the interval after he connected a well directed cross from new teammate Dennis Masina.

Mahlangu who dribbled past the Bucs defence in the 51st minute only to shoot wide was immediately replaced by Thabiso Monareng who was the two-goal hero in the semi-final against the Brazilians earlier in the day.

Stars continued to hold the upper hand in the second half and it took another good save from Meyiwa to prevent Namibian international Henrico Botes from making it 2-0 in the 61st minute.

Then came the disputed penalty for Pirates when substitute Bennett Chenene looked to have fallen over his own feet but Stars defender Raymond Seneo was adjudged by referee Buyile Gqubule to have fouled the Bucs winger inside his penalty area and promptly awarded a penalty in the 68th minute which defender Rooi Mahamutsa netted to level the final.

Tempers flared after the penalty but there was little the 22 players on the pitch could do to lift this final out of the doldrums and prevent another penalty shootout and extend the misery of the fans who braved not only the wet and arctic conditions but an uninspiring final to end a long, cold day all in aid of charity.

Stars almost snatched victory in injury time but Botes' close range header sailed over the crossbar.