Countdown to tourney
Komani will be alive with sport and rivalry on Saturday when the HPJ OC 10s rugby and netball tourney takes centre stage at the Thobi Kula Stadium.
An estimated 3 000 spectators are expected at the multi-purpose venue, ready to enjoy the electrifying atmosphere, live music, food stalls and lots of entertainment.
The biggest attraction, though, will be the rugby and netball, with a treat of mixed martial arts later in the night.
The event has long been regarded as the razzmatazz of sport on the local front and is in its fourth edition, showing growth from six to eight teams.
The defending champions are SPN Spartans, who have won all three finals of the rugby tourney.
The competition will be tougher this year, however, with guest players descending on Komani.
The eight teams represent the different neighbourhoods, which makes this tournament even more of a community attraction. SPN Spartans represent Sabata Dalinyebo, Popcorn Valley and Newvale. There are two Victoria Park teams in Vipers and Scorpions.
Aloe Ventures represent Aloevale and a portion of Mlungisi, upper Khayelitsha and Nomzamo. Crusaders represent New Rest, lower Mlungisi and Bede, as well as Laurie Dashwood Park, Sandringham, Queens View Park and Ezibeleni.
The Queen’s Renegades represent Queen’s College and their Old Boys and the Barbarians represent all the Komani players who reside in all corners of SA.
There is also an invitational team in Tarka Mustangs.
There are eight netball teams as well: SPN Spartans, Barbarians, VP Vipers, Cathcart High, City Samurai, Steve Tswete Girls, Crusaders and Aloe Ventures. A straight knockout format will determine the winner.
The eight rugby teams will be divided into two groups of four teams each.
The top two teams will proceed to the semifinals after the round-robin games.
Group A consists of Vipers, Scorpions, Aloe Ventures and Queen’s Renegades. Group B consists of Crusaders, Spartans, Barbarians and Tarka Mustangs.
There are some intriguing clashes in the opening round with the day to start with a bang at 10am with the Victoria Park derby as Scorpions go head-to-head with Vipers.
There is no love lost between the neighbours with tension sky high.
Scorpions won the last encounter in 2017 in the semifinals.
This game should be a cracker as both teams left nothing to chance with the requisition of eight guest players each to strengthen their sides.
The second match will see Crusaders taking on defending champions Spartans. Fireworks are expected in this clash as both teams are loaded with Breakers and Old Collegians players.
Both have also bolstered their squads with a couple of imports.
Aloe Ventures will find it hard to stop a fast-paced Queen’s Renegades side.
Coach Mike Peters, of Ventures, has promised a different team this year.