Raise a glass to Natalie’s

THE second leg of the Smirnoff Raga Bolo five-a-side Street Soccer Championships kicked off last weekend at the Police Park Stadium, with teams from different taverns around East London taking each other on.

And it was Natalie’s Sports Bar team which qualified for the provincial’s division.

The provincials will be played from May 20 until June 11 and will see the likes of former Bafana Bafana player Sibusiso “Rhee” Zuma as this year’s Smirnoff King, who will join last year’s kings – former Orlando Pirates midfielders Thabo Mngomeni and Benedict Vilakazi, together with former Kaizer Chiefs stars Pollen Ndlanya and Stanton Fredericks – for the tournament in Port Elizabeth. The finals take place in Johannesburg.

The champions will walk away with a cash prize of about R100 000.

The Natalie’s team proved in the first leg of the championships last month that they were in it to win it, as they were perched on top of the log in the group A division. This Mdantsane team played the game with some street technique, representing their township well in this battle of the “kasi’s”.

Natalie’s goalkeeper, Andile Dingiso said they were impressed with their win but will have to work extra hard for the provincials.

“We are happy with our performance but we can’t be too happy because there are provincials still to come.”

The team went head to head with the Zukie’s tavern team of Ziphunzane township and thrashed them 8-3.

The NU14 side had the upper hand in the game, even though their opponents also managed to score some goals.

Programme director Vuyani Poni, who deducted points from teams which did not play according to the rules, said events such as this helped keep the youth off the streets and away from bad influences.

In the final match, Natalie’s beat Shampi’s 6-3.

Shampi’s, also from Mdantsane, are currently at the top of the log in the group B division.