Mayoral Cup teams lauded for their performance
The handover of large cheques and trophies at the Mayoral Sports Development Cup's awards evening last Friday resulted in broad smiles on the faces of representatives from the winning teams.
The champions of the annual Mayoral Sports Development Cup tournament as well as organisers and sponsors were invited to the ceremony at Sivutsa Lodge in Old Tonga and thousands of rand in prize money was symbolically handed over.
The biggest amounts went to Mawewe Bobby Charlton Football Club and the other winners of the u/21 football category, as well as Schoemansdal Junior Aces Football Club and the other three top teams in the open category. The top two or four teams in each category and sporting code received prize money, with amounts ranging from R2 000 to R34 000.
READ: Nkomazi’s sporting champs lift 2019 Mayoral Cup
As always winners were urged to use the money for the benefit of their club, school or sporting organisation by improving their facilities and buying kits or equipment instead of just spending it on themselves.
The Mayoral Cup was started in 2008 as a local football tournament after the Nkomazi Local Municipality identified sport as a tool to positively impact the lives of local youth.
Over the years the tournament has grown to include a variety of sporting codes, including a few for people with disabilities like wheelchair basketball and soccer and netball for the deaf.
During his keynote address at the awards ceremony, Nkomazi mayor Johan Mkhatshwa said he wants all sports from all areas of Nkomazi to be represented. He was very happy that rugby was also added to the tournament this year.
He explained that the tournament went very well as there were no fights and teams exhibited great sportsmanship.
“Nkomazi residents love sports and they are hungry for entertainment. Businesses should support this initiative to provide healthy entertainment to the community,” Mkhatshwa stated.
He thanked the sponsors for their support. “Sport has been shown to unify the community. If you contribute to it, you are helping to unify the municipality,” he said.
The local organising committee was also lauded for their passion, using their own resources and giving up their time with family and friends to ensure the success of the tournament.
PHOTOS: Winning Mayoral Cup teams get their giant cheques
Mkhatshwa said the tournament is a great way to keep the youth off the streets and away from crime. He said through polishing young talent, the youth are assisted to become respected members of the community.
The ceremony was concluded with songs by local artist Masikane Sfiso and accompanied by excellent traditional dancers.
