Mahlabathini win Dominic Sithole tourney
MAHLABATHINI are winners of the inaugural Dominic Sithole bankrolled football tournament after defeating Inyathi Hospital 1-0 in the final played at Mahamba Grounds on Sunday.
A first half goal by Lovemore Issa handed Mahlabathini victory over a determined hospital side that fought in vain to find an equaliser in the second half.
Eight teams were involved in the tournament, with the knockout stage played on Saturday, leaving four sides to fight it out for honours. Young Stars failed to make it to the semi-finals on Sunday after the team failed to cross a flooded river while coming from their village. This left Mahlabathini, Hospital and Real United to play in a round robin format, with the top two teams meeting in the final.
Mahlabathini topped the log with one win and a draw, while Hospital were involved in two stalemates. It came as a no surprise when the Lutho Sibanda coached Mahlabathini went on to win the tournament.
The two finalists were given playing tops to use in the final and Mahlabathini received a full kit for being champions in addition to winners’ medals. Hospital got silver medals, Real United went home with bronze.
Mahlabathini central midfielder Webster Kondowe, who turns out for Casymn in the Zifa Southern Region Division One league, was voted player of the tournament, while Sibanda took the coach’s award and Jacob Moyo, also of Mahlabathini, the best goalkeeper’s gong.
The Canada-based Sithole put up $2 500 into the tournament together with Nqoba Ncube, who is also resident in the North American country.
Ncube also used the occasion to celebrate his father Elias James’ 80th birthday, with the old man gracing the tournament and going on to present the accolades assisted by Sithole.
With Real United short of players, the former AmaZulu and Zimbabwe Warriors goalkeeper Sithole even took to the field as an infield player together with his Canada-based friends Dingi Ncube and Nhlangano Dabula.
Sithole expressed satisfaction with the tournament and said he plans to hold it annually.
“The tourney was a success and I am starting to appreciate the community for partaking in it and the elders for coming together for a common cause,” Sithole said.
In order to expand the tournament, Sithole wants to attract more teams going forward in a bid to expose more talent from the rural areas.
“I think I will be making this tournament bigger by attracting a lot of teams in future from the rural areas in order to unearth more hidden talent in rural areas,” he said.
Sithole was impressed by Kondowe (29) and said he wished the player could move to semi professional side to further his career. - @Mdawini_29