Sixteen teams to compete in Mafanya Soccer Tournament

The Tshanzhe grounds in the Mutale area will be a hive of activity this weekend. The Sydney Mafanya Soccer Tournament will be staged there.

According to one of the organisers of the tournament, Mr Dakalo Ratshitanga, 16 teams from the Mutale area will take part in the tournament. Mr Ratshitanga revealed that only teams affiliated to Stream I of the SAB League and the local football associations (LFAs) will battle it out for the championship.

Mr Ratshitanga further stated that registration for the tournament had closed on Tuesday this week. He said that the first-come-first-served criterion was used during the registration process. The draw for the last-16 matches was still to be conducted at the time of our going to press.

The 16 teams that are gearing up for the tournament are: Berea FC, Sambandou United Professionals, Thengwe Flying Peace, Mulodi Freedom Birds, Tshandama Try Together, Lukau Hot Aces, Musasenda Big V, Khubvi Dangerous Darkies, Folovhodwe Stone Breakers, Tshilavulu Elite, Lukau FC, Mavunde Hungry Vultures, Mangaya Living Commodores, Tshanzhe Pre-Mighty, Anel Real Vikings and Muledzhi Fire Boys.

Mr Ratshitanga again stated that the champions would become R10 000 richer. The runners-up will take home a cash prize of R5 000 while the team that will finish in the third place will be presented with a cash prize of R3 500. An amount of R2 500 is awaiting the team that will obtain the fourth position in the tournament.

According to Mr Ratshitanga, the quarter-final matches will be staged at the same grounds next Saturday, 31 October, while the semi-final and final will be played on Sunday, 1 November. A local businessman, Mr Sydney Mafanya, after whom the tournament is named, sponsors the tournament.

Date:22 October 2020

By: Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990.  He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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