New tournament off to a thrilling start

The new tournament focuses on staging derby games against domestic rivalry teams, and has received great support from fans, and the acknowledgement of the Nkomazi Local Football Association.
Sixteen teams were selected from seven areas in the municipality to compete for their share of R15 000. There are four teams from
Driekoppies, namely Mbokodo Wonders, Driekoppies Barcelona, Mashaba United and City Royal; two from Middelplaas, namely Rovers and Blizards; and from Jeppes Reef it was Ocean Swallows and Shongwe Chiefs.
From Buffelspruit were Buffelspruit Class and Home Defenders; from Schuzdale Cosmos and Schuzdale Sundowns; from Schoemansdal were Small Chiefs and Schoemansdal Liverpool, and from Magogeni Classic Magogeni and Try Again.
The results on Saturday were Cosmos 2 vs Schuzdale Sundowns 3, Rovers and Blizards played to an one-all draw with Blizards advancing with a 2-1 win on penalties.
Mbokodo Wonders failed to register a goal, when they lost 1-0 to the tournament’s favourite, Driekoppies Barcelona. Home Defenders stamped their authority on their home rivals Buffelspruit Classic, when they won with an impressive 6-2 scoreline.
On Sunday morning Small Chiefs seemed intent on picking up where
Home Defenders left off the previous day, when they went into half-time leading Schoemansdal Liverpool 3-0.
Only for Liverpool to come back into the second half and pull back two goals, resulting in the final scoreline 4-2, as Small Chiefs managed to score an additional goal. Try Again also failed to register a goal in the tourney when they lost 2-0 against Classic Magogeni. Ocean Swallows lost 1-0 to Shongwe Chiefs, while Mashaba United successfully secured a spot in
the last eight when they beat City Royal 2-1 to advance.
Speaking to Corridor Gazette, organiser and sponsor of the tourney, Mfankhona Shongwe, said he hopes to receive support from sponsors in order for the tournament to continue even beyond Nkomazi’s popular TSB Selati Cup.
“My wish is to get support from sponsors, that we can stage the tournament even after the TSB Selati Cup. We also hope that when we return, we can hopefully get 32 teams to participate,” explained Shongwe.
He said, “To the people of Nkomazi, myself and everyone involved in staging these games we would like to say thank you very much for the
support. The support we have received has exceeded our expectations, and it goes without saying that residents are very well behaved, and for that we are truly grateful.”
The next fixture will take place on February 9
• 09:30 – Mashaba United vs Small Chiefs
•11:30 – Shongwe Chiefs vs Schuzdale Sundowns
•13:30 – Driekoppies Barcelona vs Blizards
•15:30 – Classic Magogeni vs Home Defenders.