Team Mpumalanga comes fifth in School Sports National Championships

An impressive performance from Simphiwe Kabini during the South African School Sports National Championship in netball amazed Minister of Sports Mr Fikile Mbalula scouts that led the minister offering to help further her talent next year.

During the fourth edition of the foundation of sports and athletes development in the country overjoyed Mpumalanga future champions in Pretoria. Team Mpumalanga held their flag high fighting for top honors but in the end of the day, Gauteng had the last laugh coming first with 833 points.

The impressive Kabini had been officially granted allowance to further her talent next year after she performed very well during their netball games.

“From this program we will have R16 million to spend on schools that focus on the big five sporting codes which includes football, rugby, cricket, netball and athletics.

If you are talented we will give you a bursary so that one day you can represent the country. You must take your participation here seriously, this is not just another competition.” Said Minister Mbalula.

This paper tried to get comment from Kabini but she had gone home after their games were finished.

Team Mpumalanga practically emphasized its winning outlines following gymnastics scooping all Gold medals on the individual’s competition.

The gymnast’s confidence provisioned a deliberate performance placing the province on advantage to claim its glory, however, the host province denied their effort and completed first overall of the competition.

In the 2013, Team Mpumalanga came fifth in the competition and this year it is sitting on the eighth position with 71 points.
Over 10 000 participants from nine provinces highlighted a sense of concern in sports development in the country.

The development in its fourth edition included vulnerable people in roughly selected codes that included soccer, basketball and tennis.

The overall championships code include amongst other, Soccer, Rugby, Cricket, Chess, Gymnastics, , Hockey, Cricket, Netball, Swimming, Tennis, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Basket Ball, and Cross Country.

This year the championship introduced four traditional games such as Jukskei, Kho-kho, Kgati and Morabaraba. The Minister of Sports Mr Fikile Mbalula mentioned that next year they will introduce two more codes which are ‘soft ball and boxing’.

The Mpumalanga department of culture, sports and recreation in collaboration with the provincial department of basic education urges to acknowledge their top performers of the competition.

“We want to help our athletes who exceptionally did well in the competition further their talents as a province in the next financial year. We want to acknowledge their participation,” said Sports and Recreation Chief Director Lebone Mesia.
Results

Final Points Ranking.

1. Gauteng 833 points
2. KwaZulu Natal 433 points
3. Free State 236 points
4. Eastern Cape 233 points
5. Western Cape 204 points
6. Limpopo 139 points
7. North West 89 points
8. Mpumalanga 71 points
9. Northern Cape 36 points

Provinces Gold Medals Silver Medals Bronze Medals

Gauteng 158 132 95
KwaZulu Natal 79 59 78
Free State 40 39 38
Eastern Cape 32 39 61
Western Cape 26 39 48
Limpopo 19 26 30
North West 13 18 14
Mpumalanga 10 16 9
Northern Cape 6 6 6