Witpoortjie All Stars honour late teammate with inaugural Sphiwe Ndima Legacy Cup

The Witpoortjie All Stars Football Club came together to celebrate the life of their beloved teammate, Sphiwe Ndima, by hosting the inaugural Sphiwe Ndima Legacy Cup on June 14 at Culembeeck Primary School in Witpoortjie.

This spirited tournament was a heartfelt homage to Sphiwe’s passion for football and his unwavering dedication to uplifting the community.

In a thrilling showcase of talent and teamwork, four local teams – Witpoortjie All Stars, Witpoortjie Masters, Flying Eagles, and Smokes and Mirrors – battled it out on the field. After an intense showdown, the Witpoortjie All Stars emerged victorious, clinching a nail-biting 6–5 win in a penalty shootout against the Flying Eagles. The champions walked away with a stunning trophy and gleaming gold medals, while the runners-up proudly received silver medals. Special awards were also handed out to celebrate the standout players who shone throughout the day.

But this event was much more than just football; it was a day filled with music, delicious food, and community partnership. The essence of Sphiwe’s legacy and his commitment to helping young people struggling with drug addiction were at the forefront of the event. In tribute to him, the club announced ambitious plans to support the Davidsonville Community-Based Substance Abuse Treatment Centre in Roodepoort. They will be donating essential items like clothing, school supplies, shoes, hygiene products, and gardening tools to assist those in need.

Lindiwe Ntuli, the club secretary, expressed the tournament’s deeper significance, “This event was all about keeping Sphiwe’s spirit alive and uniting our community. We hope his legacy will inspire hope, especially for the young people facing challenging times.”

The success of the inaugural Sphiwe Ndima Legacy Cup has sparked discussions about making it an annual tradition, ensuring that Sphiwe’s memory lives on, not just through the love of football but through the community’s ongoing commitment to his cause. This remarkable day showcased the incredible power of sports to unite people and foster positive change, proving that together, they can continue Sphiwe’s uplifting mission.

Witpoortjie All Stars would like to thank the following for their sponsorship, donations and support of the event.

• List of sponsors:
SKP Media
Earth 2 Zone
Nsele Shuttle Services
LYMA Consulting Engineers
TN Molefe Construction
Lesiela Farming
Gerald Express Hire
Kamogelo Morero
Multi Save Supermarket Witpoortjie
Build it Batavia
Mason Consultancy Pty Ltd

• Support:
Culembeeck Primary School
Bra George
Referees
Ambu Medic Care
Tumelo car guard
Witpoortjie Community
Amapelepele
Lucky mosete
Pule “Rasta”
Lucky Xoul

• Food vendors:
Vanessa
Keo
Tshego
Nomi

• Participating teams:
Witpoortjie Masters
eTV’s Smokes & Mirrors
Flying Eagles Academy
Witpoortjie All Stars