Emalahleni LFA awards recognise emerging talent and community champions
Among the awards presented to teams and individuals in various categories, the ceremony also featured two special awards, which were presented to two teens in recognition of their outstanding performance.
The Emalahleni Local Football Association (Emalahleni LFA) recently hosted their first award ceremony to celebrate and honour the best performers within the association.
Hosted at a local restaurant on December 10, the event brought together soccer enthusiasts, proud parents, club owners, coaches, and key community stakeholders to celebrate local football excellence, development, and unity.
Through the event, the association presented awards to teams and individuals, ranging from different categories such as goalkeeper of the season, player of the season, top goal scorer of the season, and coach of the season, among others.
They also issued special awards to Banele Hlatshwayo for being the young, promising player aged 16, and Kamogelo Maroga for being the U15 national team player.
“It is inspiring to see football being used to foster unity and raise the standards of development so that our children can grow to represent South Africa,” said Linda Zwane, South African Football Association Vice President, who was also in attendance.
The President of the Emalahleni LFA, Peter Malope, expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the awards and the development programmes throughout the year, particularly Glencore, who made it all possible.
“Thank you to all the players, coaches, parents, and partners who participated in the awards. A special thank you to Glencore for their partnership, because it has truly helped bring structure to local football,” Peter said.
According to the association, Glencore has partnered with them for the past three years, bringing real development to grassroots football, providing structure, opportunities, and resources for young players across the region.
“Through Glencore’s continued support, we have successfully rolled out a wide range of development programmes which continue to transform the local football landscape, offering young talent a structured pathway to grow and compete,” the association said.
Muzi Hlatshwayo from Glencore expressed his gratitude for the work done.
“We are happy to see the progress; that is why we will stay committed to this great partnership that we have,” he said.
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