Taverns tournament sees eight teams battle it out
Nzame FC edge Gwava Stars in exciting final
While taverns around the country hogged the headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent weeks, Komani’s establishments have been involved in positive activities through sport.
Mlungisi township’s tavern patrons are behind exciting soccer tournaments that take place at the Thobi Kula Indoor Sports Centre field on Sundays.
Each tournament is played over two Sundays in a month, with eight teams taking part and the top two winning cash prizes.
Tavern owners have given the competition their blessings through the use of their establishments’ names.
Last Sunday, Nzame FC from KwaZakhele walked away with the R2,500 first prize after edging Gwava Stars 1-0 in the final. Gwava pocketed R1,500.
“We feel very happy after a long, hard struggle. For six months we have been suffering because of referees. But we did not panic, we pushed to be the team we are today,” said Nzame head coach Andile Mketho.
He attributed the victory to hard work.
His assistant, Eric Seyisi, said there were no weak teams in the tournament and they had played difficult opponents in Gwava.
“Our players play to win every time.”
He also thanked fans for their unwavering support.
Gwava Stars captain Phumlani Mandla gracefully accepted defeat.
“We are disappointed because we fought hard, but the best team won today. We are disappointed. Lack of fitness took its toll on us.”
Meanwhile, Nzame team manager Luzuko “Rhino”
Mbengwana said the tournaments changed people’s lives by motivating them to live healthier lifestyles and abstain from alcohol and drugs.
Nkosomzi “Nkunku” Mbusi, one of the organisers and a member of Stololo FC, agreed: “We started the tournament to get former players to come and play soccer so that we can have fun and get to know each other. We also get children to spend time here, away from drugs.
“We spend our Sundays here and people keep active.
“Our aim is to take people away from crime and ensure they are here instead of being crammed up in taverns, particularly on Sundays,” Mbusi said.
He said the tournaments were named after taverns and a player had to be recorded under a certain tavern’s name in their area to be eligible to play.
“You cannot just join a team. You have to be under that particular tavern’s name,” said Mbusi.
Some of the players and team managers called on the tavern owners to show their support by making financial contributions to the tournaments.
Currently, players have to fork out the R500 required to take part in each tournament.