Who will lift the ABC Foundation trophy?

Makonde Stadium will be a hive of activity this weekend as the quarter-final, semi-final, and final matches of the ABC Foundation Soccer Tournament will be played there.

The first quarter-final match between Gondeni Big Cat and Napoli FC will start at 09:00 on Saturday. Napoli beat Benny’s Care Sports Academy 7-6 to secure a place in the quarter-final round, while Gondeni Big Cat advanced to the quarter-finals by defeating Makonde Home Defenders 5-4.

Mashamba Soccer Academy will test their strength against Rockers FC in the second quarter-final, scheduled to start at 11:00. Mashamba Soccer Academy are tipped as favourites to lift the trophy and are expected to beat Rockers, judging by their performance in the round of 16 against Matsika Shooting Stars, whom they defeated 3-0.

Univen FC will take on Tshamutilikwa Fire Boys shortly after midday, and the day’s programme will conclude with the match between Musasenda Big Five and Mukula Young Santos. Young Santos could cause an upset if they are not well contained.

The draw for the semi-final matches will take place at the stadium after the last quarter-final game. The first semi-final will be played on Sunday morning, starting at 09:00, with the second one kicking off at 11:00. The winners of the semi-final matches will face off in the final later in the afternoon.

The champions will receive R50,000, a soccer kit, a floating trophy, and gold medals. The runners-up will be awarded R15,000, a soccer kit, and silver medals, while the third-placed team will take home R10,000 and bronze medals. Individual awards will be given to the top goal scorer, player of the tournament, youngest player, best goalkeeper, best referee, and best coach.

Date:27 September 2024

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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