Mayoral Cup kicks 2019 off with loads of entertainment for sports fans
Local soccer, netball, basketball, volleyball and rugby teams competed for their spot in the next round of the Mayoral Sports Development Cup. The mayor kicked off the annual tournament at KaMhlushwa Stadium on Sunday.
The official opening of the 2018 Mayoral Sports Development Cup at KaMhlushwa Stadium on Sunday provided an action-packed start to the year for sports fanatics.
The tournament was established more than a decade ago by the Nkomazi Local Municipality. Community members, sport clubs and schools participate in soccer (men’s and women’s), basketball, netball, volleyball, boxing and taekwondo.
Physically challenged individuals can participate in wheelchair basketball and netball, and there is rugby for the deaf.
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Registration is done in October each year and the soccer matches usually act as qualifiers for the popular Selati Cup, which starts in mid-March. The winners in each code are rewarded with prizes to help develop their school or club and promote their sporting codes.
On Sunday the KaMhlushwa Stadium was packed with fans and representatives of the municipality and fellow coordinators from the Nkomazi Local Football Association (NLFA).
At 09:00 the tournament started with an engrossing soccer match between KaMhlushwa Tigers and KaMhlushwa Carlton. The latter overwhelmed the Tigers with a blast of goals, earning them a winning score of 5-1.
Next, Schoemansdal Superstrikers Ladies faced Nkomazi Ladies Football Club. The latter proved too tough for the 2017 ladies tournament winners and won with seven goals to none.
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The u/19 rugby teams of Sidlamafa and Mtimandza ended up in a zero-point draw after the first half. Due to many injuries and the absence of paramedics on duty, the game was called off and considered a tie.
The last encounter of the day saw defending champions KaMhlushwa Junior City Stars face KaMhlushwa Screamers. A draw forced the match into penalty shoot-outs and the Screamers won 3-2.
Other results:
• Netball – Driekoppies vs VIP II: 17-31
• Volleyball – Mbangwane vs Mangweni Tigers: 3-2.
• Basketball – (seniors) Ntunda Lakers vs Boolgsis: 24-1
• Ntunda Lakers vs Nkomazi Heat: 24-16
• (u/19) Nkomazi Heat vs Idlangamala: 32-15
• Ntunda Spurs vs Idlangamala: 14-8.
Collence Silabela, from the NFLA, said they will finalise schools’ registration soon and matches will start shortly thereafter. “We are looking forward to a great tournament. We believe talent must be developed from a young age to the very top,” he stated.
Silabela also indicated that paramedics will be on stand-by to treat injuries from the next fixtures.
