Correctional dominate EOCGA V-ball Awards
MANZINI – They are a force to be reckoned with.
That is Correctional Sunrise ladies and men’s teams, who bagged 90 per cent of the individual awards last Saturday at the Mavuso Sports Emporium. The ladies beat their police rivals 3-0, while the men won 3-1 against same opposition. This was after intense matches that attracted spectatorship of over 200 people. The Coach of the Tournament Award went to Mbuso ‘Pumpy’ Vilakati, who doubles as a player for the men’s team and head coach for the ladies. Vilakati has been coaching the Correctional ladies team for seven years and they have been back-to-back champions since then. His teams won the Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games E20 000-sponsored tournament.
“I have been coaching my team since 2015 and I never thought that I could manage to fill in the big shoes left by the former Coach Mr. Maphosa. God has been great to us and thank you to my team for allowing me to grow with them and supporting my ideas. We have had more glory days than sad ones and thank you girls for making me who I am today,” Vilakati said.
The vibrant jersey number 10, Nokulunga Kunene bagged two awards, being the Best Blocker and Best Mid-court Player. The vibrant multi-sports personality, Abigail Simelane, took home the Best Attacker gong. Team Captain Gugu Dlamini was named for Best Setter while Tema Mndzebele took to the podium to receive the Best Server award.
Aggressive
According to the tactical yet aggressive attacker, the presence of the Correctional Services Commissioner General, Phindile Dlamini, was a huge boost of motivation that helped them deliver an impressive performance.
“The commissioner general’s presence and support boosted us a lot and we wanted to impress her. We had two weeks of training for the final match and we played well, according to the game plan,” Simelane said.
The exuberant best blocker award winner who has been playing for Correctional Sunrise for the past nine years attributed their victory to teamwork.
“We played for each other and the win was a team effort, including the individual awards. We know each
REPS captain Ncamsile Dlamini and her number one fan, her five-year-old son Seluleko Mavimbela. other’s strengths and weaknesses because we have been playing together for so long. It all played out like we had planned,” Kunene said.
REPS bagged only two of the individual awards in the male division. Eddie Shibose was voted the Best Blocker and Fanelo Ngwenya was the Best Libero (defensive player). Correctional’s Ndukwenhle Masangane’s calculated aggression earned him the Best Attacker award, while Bhawu Mlipha took home the Best Setter award.
The awards presentation was conducted by Basketball Association of Eswatini (BASE) President Nhlanhla ‘Kid’ Maphanga, Eswatini Cricket Association (ECA) President Rueben ‘Rhoo’ Nxumalo as well as Business and Development Officer of the Eswatini Sports and Recreation Council (ESRC) Nicholas Nyoni.
EOCGA VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:
LADIES DIVISION:
● Best Attacker: Abigail Simelane
● Best Blocker: Nokulunga Kunene
● Best Server: Tema Mndzebele
● Best Libero: Ncobile Dladla
● Best Setter: Gugu Dlamini
● Best MVP: Nokulunga Kunene
● Best Coach: Mbuso ‘Pumpy’ Vilakati MALE DIVISION:
● Best Attacker:
● Best Blocker:
● Best Server:
● Best Libero:
● Best Setter: al
● Best MVP:
● Best Coach:
Ndukwenhle Masangane Eddie Shibose
Trevor Sibanda
Fanelo Ngwenya
Bhawu Mlipha
Trevor Sibanda Themba Sifundza
Correctional Correctional Correctional Correctional Correctional Correctional Correctional
Correctional REPS Correctional REPS Correction
Correctional Correctional