Silverware for Matsila youth teams

Last Saturday was harvest day for the 20 teams that participated in the Matsila Youth Soccer Tournament.

During a ceremony at the Majosi grounds, cash prizes totalling R200 000 from the sponsor, Matsila Community Development Trust, were distributed to the teams. The MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture, Ms Thandi Moraka, attended the final and prize giving.

Wayeni Sea Robbers emerged as the winners after beating Matsila Arsenal FC 2-0 in the final. They received R20 000, 14 pairs of soccer boots, two soccer kit sets, gold medals, a soccer ball and a floating trophy. The runners-up, Matsila Arsenal FC, received R15 000, two soccer kit sets, 14 pairs of soccer boots, a trophy, a ball and silver medals.

The third prize of R5 000 went Polokwane Academy. They also received two sets of soccer kits and 14 pairs of soccer boots. A prize of R3 000 went to Masakona Bayern, who went home with two soccer kits and 14 pairs of soccer boots. They finished in fourth position.

MEC Moraka appealed to businesspeople to get involved in promoting local activities. She defined football as a good tool to fight unemployment and poverty. She stated that the government alone could not address the high rate of unemployment. She promised that they were going to upgrade the Majosi grounds.

The sponsor of the tournament, Chief Livhuwani Matsila of Matsila Development Trust, urged young people to stay away from drugs and alcohol and to be law-abiding. He said if young people stayed away from criminal activities, the economy of the country would boom and there would be nothing more to scare investors away.

"I think soccer coaches in the country will do well to visit our areas and tap talent, as good soccer is played here," he added. According to him, the youngsters from the different schools had done well in the tournament and it was only a matter of time before some of them would play in the top league.

Date:28 June 2019

By: Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

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