Tavern teams battle it out

For 136 tavern teams around Mzansi, the quest to be crowned the winners of the 2017 Smirnoff Raga Bolo Championship and score the R150 000 prize started on March 18 in Tembisa.

The country-wide five-a-side street soccer competition kicked off at Phomolong Sports Grounds.

The battle for the championship title began with a District League taking place in 14 regions in Soweto, Tembisa, Soshanguve, Katlehong, Bloemfontein, Rustenburg, Nelspruit, Polokwane, East London, Port Elizabeth, Umlazi, Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Mashu and Khayelitsha.

Soccer teams are competing for the top spots in regions and the best 66 will then face off within their respective provinces in the Provincial League, the matches of which get underway in the Western Cape on May 20.

The 14 teams that triumph in these will then head to Gauteng to take part in the National Final on July 1.

In Tembisa, sides that went head to head included Jackie Black’s Tavern, Baileys Inn and June’s Place.

Some of the squads set to square off in Soweto comprise Sanele’s Tavern, David’s Inn and Inn Crowd.

Geneva’s Liquors, Mossa’s Tavern and Mankwali’s Tavern will be among the contending crews in Katlehong, with Leboneng Liquor Store, Nkadimeng General Dealer and Mothiba’s Tavern being part of those fighting for pole position in Soshanguve.

KwaMashu will see clashes between teams like Leon’s Tavern, Hlabisa Tavern and Ximba’s Tavern while Umlazi will witness matches between sides such as Cibane Eating House, Sbu’s Refreshments and Jula’s Tavern.

Sisonke Tavern, Shabalala Tavern, Kwa Bhunu Tavern and others will take to the pitch in Pietermaritzburg.

The boys from Mindi Tavern, Paul’s Tavern and Tshidi’s Tavern will be among those battling it out in Bloemfontein, with the likes of Pitsos Tavern, Kgomotoso Inn and Randy’s Tavern competing in Rustenburg.

Cosy Turn Tavern, Lyton Tavern and Days Sports Tavern will be part of the teams in Nelspruit trying to advance to the next round of the competition, with clubs such as Plaza Liquor Restaurant, Gosbres Tavern and Angelina’s Liquor Tavern trying to do the same in Polokwane.

Squads like Platinum Lounge, London Jazz Club and Oom Cola’s Tavern will be taking each other on in the tests taking place in Port Elizabeth, while Sikwanda Wine and Dine, AMG Meat Fire Beer, Magaba’s Place and more will be locking horns in East London.

In Khayelitsha, competing crews will include Thabo’s Tavern, Shiles Place and Mazoe’s Tavern with the line-up from Langa featuring the likes of Fanie’s Place, Es Bayeni Social Club and Stiles Place.

Last year’s winners, Maqando Fudu Tavern from Umlazi in KwaZulu-Natal, will be back to defend their crown.

The runners-up, Ekuthuleni Tavern who hail from the same region, will be also returning for a second shot at the Raga Bolo Championship title.

Kyle Lesch, Marketing Manager for Smirnoff 1818, said, “Between March and July, these teams will be repping their kasis and everyone’s invited to come and cheer them on at matches being played all over South Africa.”

The next round of matches will be played on March 25 in Soweto, KwaMashu and Port Elizabeth.

Fans can check the 1818 Clubhouse Facebook page for updates on whether their tavern team has been selected or not.

They can also register on the mobi-site, www.1818clubhouse.mobi, to find out more.