Ntfonjeni High P. Peak champs

MBABANE – Ntfonjeni High School are the champions of the ongoing Instacash Schools Soccer Tournament under the Pigg’s Peak Branch.

Parading a strong technical bench in former Malanti Chiefs Coach Raymond Dlamini, who is the school’s head teacher, and his then assistant Bongumusa ‘Giggs’ Mdluli, Ntfonjeni won two finals against Mhlatane High School to become zonal and branch champions.

Furthermore, due to Pigg’s Peak having two sub divisions, the Southern and Northern Zones, winners of each zone, faced the runners-up in the semi-finals. In the Southern Zone final played last Friday at Pigg’s Peak Prison Sports Ground, Ntfonjeni made light work of Mhlatane, comprehensively beating them 3-1 to become zonal champions. For their efforts, they received a trophy and gold medals while Mhlatane received silver medals.

Then on Wednesday, the four schools from the two zones met to determine the branch champions. Promising striker Thamie Siphepho led Mhlatane to victory against a hard fighting Nyakatfo High in the first semi-final, while Ntfonjeni had to dig deep to see off stubborn sister school, Ebuhleni National 6-5 in a penalty shootout.

In the afternoon, the stage was set for one of the greatest rivalries in schools sports as Ntfonjeni and Mhlatane met again, this time in the branch final at a packed Prison Sports Ground, Mhlatane Captain Millie Gule was said to have been a marvel to watch as Ntfonjeni struggled to play their normal flowing game in the early stages.

However, they soon found their rhythm with midfield king Mangaliso ‘Gege’ Dlamini pulling the strings at the belly of the park together with Gadze Ndzinisa. The match finished 5-4 in favour of Ntfonjeni. Other branches also had their matches.

(Additional information by Chris Dlamini)

SCHOOLS TOURNAMENT’S RESULTS:

INSTACASH SOCCER

Pigg’s Peak Zonal Final

Mhlatane High 1-3 Ntfonjeni High

Pigg’s Peak Branch Final

Ntfonjeni 5-4 Mhlatane

KFC/SCARA THINDWA MANZINI ESSA

BRANCH: U15 FINALS

St Pauls 4-4 Lobamba

(St Pauls won on penalties)

LADIES SOCCER OPEN SEMIS:

Ngwane Park 2-3 St Mary’s High Hillside High 4-1 Sigombeni High

INSTACASH SEMIS:

Gundvwini 2-0 Masundvwini Manzini Central 1-1 Malunge High (Malunge won on penalties)

(Courtey pics) The Pigg’s Peak ESSA branch under the Instacash Schools Soccer Tournament was won by Ntfonjeni High over Mhlatane High in a game played at Pigg’s Peak Prison Sports Ground on Friday.

School for the Deaf were crowned netball champions in the Siteki ESSA branch.