Phalaborwa teams shine at Shawela soccer tournament
High-stakes soccer action returns to Shawela, with teams chasing R100,000 and backing important community causes.
PHALABORWA – Excitement is building up at Shawela village as the Shawela Madrid Annual Soccer Tournament hosts a thrilling last-32 knockout competition, bringing together 32 of the top football teams from the Phalaborwa and Giyani areas to battle for the coveted R100 000 top prize.
The two-month-long tournament will see teams face off every week in knockout fixtures, with only the strongest advancing until the ultimate winner is crowned.
Among the top contenders from the Phalaborwa side is Phalaborwa United, which is scheduled to face Makhuva Black Aces from Makhuva village in Giyani during week three of the competition.
The tournament has already produced exciting results, with two Phalaborwa teams, Novela FC and Lulekani Try-again FC, advancing to the next round after winning their opening matches on Saturday.
Lulekani Try-again FC delivered an impressive performance, defeating Giyani’s highly regarded team, Nkomo C, 3-1 to secure their place in the last 16.
The competition continues next week, with several other teams still expected to play their opening matches as the race for the grand prize intensifies.
Archie Shitlhavani, chairman and co-founder of Shawela Madrid Football Club and its annual tournament, said the competition serves a greater purpose beyond football, as it aims to raise funds for non-profit organisations (NPOs) within the community.
“Apart from promoting sports in the community, this tournament is a charity-centred project designed to raise funds, which we use to assist NPOs that need support.
We first assess their needs before deciding how best to help,” said Shitlhavani.
This year, the organisers plan to extend their support to projects such as Xikhumbha Disability Centre and the Vakhegula-Vakhegula elderly team of Nkomo-B, and other organisations, depending on the funds raised during the tournament.
Shitlhavani said the lucrative prize money not only motivates teams to compete at a higher level but also helps empower young players.
“The prize money is meant to boost and uplift local teams.
“Many of the players are young, and the money can help them cover costs such as tertiary education registration and other development needs,” he said.
He added that the attractive prize also draws stronger teams and larger crowds, making the tournament more competitive and entertaining while increasing gate takings that contribute to the charity drive.
