Netball teams awarded for their excellence

Community members gathered at the Mehlareng Courts on Saturday in support of the Tembisa Netball Association league games.

Activities ran throughout the day, with three u-15, six u-13 and five open netball teams availing themselves to compete in the association’s closing prize-giving ceremony.

In the u-15 category, Super Girls scooped the championship title.

In the u-13s, Ingwekazi won the first prize.

While Mighty Golden Girls won the first prize for the open teams.

Each winning team was awarded with a trophy, netball kit and gold medals.

The second place runners-up were awarded with silver medals, while third-placed teams were awarded bronze medals.

Tembisa Netball Association chairperson Theo Ndlovu said the aim of the tournament was to help keep young people off the street and provide an alternative to gambling games among the community of Tembisa.

“The recent growth of gambling sports games among the youth around the community is alarming,” Ndlovu said. “As residents and parents of these children, we should work together to help our children realise their true talent, not gambling techniques which later tempt them to commit crime.”

According to Ndlovu, the people who win gambling games are the very same ones you see fighting over money afterwards.

“Young people should play for the tournaments which will help scouts discover their talent. Currently, so much talent in our youth goes to waste because they only play for money, not to be developed in the sport. Our community should intervene in this matter of gambling sports games. This risky behaviour will destroy our children.”

Street games played in taverns should also be combated, Ndlovu said.

“This type of games encourages our children to consume alcohol and later find themselves in dangerous places, involved with criminal elements, or themselves abused. We are complaining or crying that our children get raped, take drugs or are involved in crime, but we are doing nothing about the same activities which promote these behaviours.”

Ndlovu thanked everyone who attended to the prize-giving ceremony, as well as those who supported the Tembisa Netball Association throughout the year.

“We are encouraging teams in and around Tembisa to join the league to attract other youth who are not taking part in sport. Our primary object is to see young people active in sports and making right choices in life.”

The results of the prize-giving ceremony are as follows:

Open teams

1. Mighty Golden Girls

2. Super Girls

3. Midrand Rovers

U-15

1. Super Girls

2. Ingwekazi

3. Norkem XT

U-13

1. Ingwekazi

2. Hustle

3. Super Girls

League winners

Final log standings of the Tembisa Netball Association:

Open Teams

1. Midrand Rovers

2. Mighty Golden Girls

3. Gentle Touch

U-15

1. Super Girls

2. Ingwekazi

3. Midrand Rover

U-13

1. Hustle

2. Ingwekazi

3. Mighty Golden Girls