Arsenal win Tinkhundla tournament
BHUNYA – Mbangave Arsenal dug deep into their reserves of courage to win Montigny’s new Tinkhundla champ of champs football tournament.
It was played at the Bhunya Stadium last Saturday. After almost a decade of sponsoring the annual Tinkhundla tournament, for the various chiefdoms under each constituency, Montigny set yet another challenge when the timber company acceded to a proposal made by some Members of Parliament (MPs) to sponsor a champ of champs tournament.
The new tournament featured eight pick teams and clubs from Siphocosini, LaMgabhi, Mangcongco and Mhlambanyatsi constituencies, with each inkhundla bringing two teams, being the champions of the Tinkhundla tournament and their runners-up.
Ground
The games were played back-toback from 8:30am and concluded at 5pm, with the open ground hosting the runners-up of each of the four constituencies.
The more comfortable Bhunya Stadium played host to the champions. Mbangave began the day with a tricky fixture against Mangcongco All Stars, who they won against by a very narrow margin, scoring a lone goal that All Stars could not match or better.
Siphocosini Inkhundla champions Siphocosini FC made light work of LaMgabhi’s Seven Stars, sending a strong warning to Arsenal, who were already waiting in the semi-final.
Siphocosini’s flowing passing game soon made them fan favourites. When they eventually lost to Mbangave, some fans who were interviewed afterwards felt this was due to fatigue, as they only rested for about 30 minutes before the encounter against one of the tournament’s most complete teams, who themselves were fully rested.
The juggernaut of the Mhlambanyatsi Inkhundla club blitzed through its opponents, beating LaMgabhi Black Rhinos in the final to take home E4 000, a trophy, gold medals and a soccer ball.
Consolation
The runners-up took home a sum of E3 000, silver medals and a ball, while the third, and fourth-placed competitors got the consolation prizes of E1 000 each.
The tournament was watched by the pair of the country’s Under-20 coaches Mduduzi ‘Sikhalo’ Nxumalo and Sabelo Mnisi. Both gaffers said they were impressed with the standard of the game at Usutu.
They, however, said they were disappointed with the age as some of the players who caught their eye were way above the age of 20. The games pulled large crowds who enjoyed the football talent on display. Montigny Community Relations Manager Sihle Mavuso, said the company decided to take its annual Tinkhundla tournament just one step further this time around, by creating a champ-of-champs tournament, where winners and their runners-up would compete against teams from other constituencies at the Bhunya Stadium.
Desire
He said this was in line with the company’s desire to restore the sporting culture of old in Usutu. Bhunya holds its own in the country’s football annals among townships that contributed immensely in producing football greats such as the late Zuluway Tsabedze, Fash Dlamini, Norman ‘Major’ Nkambule, Themba ‘Jiza Jiza’ Shongwe, Sihlangu goalkeeper coach Sipho Dube and Zuluway’s son Tony ‘TT’ Tsabedze. ‘TT’ went on to ply his trade in South Africa before returning to enjoy a long career with Mbabane Swallows.