Akhile shines in Build it tournament
MBABANE – Hard work pays.
This comes after five outstanding players in the Build it, Mbabane Under-13 tournament were awarded for their good display in the tournament, which was played on December 10, last year.
The most outstanding player was Hurricanes’ Akhile Kunene, who was presented with E1 000 cheque towards buying stationery and soccer boots in an event graced by Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederick Mngomezulu at Mbabane Build it Plus Store on Friday.
Build it Human Resource Manager Gladwin Hillary who awarded the players said as per their promise that they would award the players who performed above their counterparts during the games, which featured eight teams around the capital city, Friday’s event was specially organised to fulfil that.
“The best performers on the day, were promised soccer boots, with the overall player of the tournament getting E1 000 for stationery alongside the boots. Instead of bringing the stationery, we’ve electronically transferred the amount into his father’s account’, Hillary said.
The other best players were Mbabane Swallows duo of Sibahle Dlamini and Senelo Vilakati, Supersport’s Sandziso Shongwe and Lobamba Cosmos’ Khayalethu Ngwenya.
The players were accompanied by their coaches and parents in the event. Speaking on behalf of the players’ parents, Akhile’s father Themba Kunene, thanked both Build it and EFA for the juniors’ tournament. He said the awards would also motivate them as parents as it demonstrated that football did have some benefits.
PARENTS
The 12-year-old Akhile who schools at John Wesley Primary School thanked Build it and encouraged parents to support them in their football career. He encouraged his peers to always strive for the best while balancing their football careers with their studies.
Meanwhile, EFA CEO Mngomezulu thanked the hardware store for the renewal of the partnership after the COVID-19 pandemic and appreciated parents for supporting the youngsters.
“What we see today is what we call talent identification and nurturing. It’s key that we take it from the grassroots level and strengthen it to give out the best players. We do have some products of Built it in the national teams (Kwakhe Tfwala) and their performance has flourished over the years,” Mngomezulu said.
The CEO also mentioned that their main aim was to continue producing more shining youngsters through the Build it juniors tournaments.
He said this would help improve the performance of the national teams while also creating a talented base of players for clubs who might scout in the youngsters.
Notable is that Build it has spent E6.4 million to produce 22 stars for the country’s national teams in 16 years. The tournament was headed to Nhlangano yesterday for its next edition but was postponed to March 4, 2023 due to the torrential rains that were experienced in the country.
Eight teams will battle it out at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium on the day and a pick team from Nhlangano Store will be selected for national championships.