Exciting rugby and netball at Thobi Kula
MAXWELL LEVINE THE much-anticipated JJ Motors OC 10s rugby and netball is set to ignite the Thobi Kula Indoor Stadium tomorrow with an estimated 3 000 spectators expected to attend.
The event, which has become a major drawcard for the past two years, promises to be bigger and better. It is a community initiative where neighbourhoods compete.
SPN Spartans are the defending rugby champs and represent Sabata, Popcorn Valley and a portion of Newvale.
Victoria Park have two teams in Scorpions and Vipers.
New Rest is represented by the Red Devils with City Samurai standing up for the town suburbs.
Aloe Venture represent Aloevale and Mlungisi.
The draw was done last Friday in a packed Echo Lounge.
The netball will consist of eight teams set to compete on a knockout basis.
Mlungisi 1 will kick off against Mlungisi 2 at 9am.
They will be followed by New Rest Red Devils against Aloe Ventures. Spartans will take on VP Vipers with Nkululekweni facing off against City Samurai.
Winners will receive a trophy and gold medals with the runners-up taking silver medals.
Teams play in a round-robin format with the top four going through to the semifinals and then finals. The opening ceremony starts at 9am with the first match at 10am.
New Rest Red Devils will take on Samurai, followed by the clash between Aloe Ventures and Scorpions. Vipers will take on Spartans to kick-start their campaign.
Second-round matches see Red Devils against Scorpions, Aloe Ventures versus Spartans and Samurai taking on Vipers.
In the third round, Red Devils play against Spartans with Ventures taking on Vipers and then Samurai take on Scorpions.
The fourth round will be the most anticipated as mini-rivals go up against each other.
Red Devils take on Ventures, followed be a tough encounter as bitter rivals Samurai tackle Spartans. The last match will be the Victoria Park Derby as Vipers take on Scorpions.
The last round sees Red Devils play against Spartans with Aloe Ventures taking on Vipers. City Samurai end off with a tie against Scorpions.
Winners receive a trophy, gold medals and R2000. Runner-ups receive silver medals and R1 000. Third place finishes receive bronze medals and R500.
All cash prizes will go to beneficiaries in the winning team’s neighbourhood.
A total of 19 rugby matches and seven netball matches are expected. Rugby will consist of 132 players with netball represented by 88 players, making a total of 220 players on the day – 32 rugby players come from 15 different towns and cities around South Africa, which shows the growth of the event.
Queens Casino will donate 10 pairs of school shoes with Louis Rex and St Theresa Primary School receiving five pairs each, with African Pioneer sponsoring all the netball prizes.
Kwikka Likka have donated all the rugby cash prizes with Twizza the official refreshment supplier to all teams. Osetra Events Management and NS Pillay will support with music.
Big business has thrown its weight behind the teams and is giving back to the community. Gates open at 8am.