Tournament recognises young talent in Shabalala

The games catered for young girls and boys to keep them from any substance abuse or criminal activities.

Mnandi Games Organisation’s (SMGO) chairperson, Sunnyboy Nkosi, said they had invited all local teams to be part of the tournament and made sure that they adhered to Covid-19 regulations.

“But our main plan was to make sure local talent was recognised, and that young people concentrate on sports and school. We made sure that young people from the age of 15 are part of the games, because we believe that we can get them off the streets.

Our area has a high rate of crime, and the only way to fight it is to make sure that we have something to keep them busy. Sport is our only solution at the moment, because these young people will not have time to participate in any wrongdoing,” he said.

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Nkosi said the winners and losers left the tournament with a token of appreciation, but the good news is that their talent had been recognised.

“The main goal is to make sure that we establish an organised league under the South African Football Association. Royal Football Academy was the champion of u/17 soccer after they defeated Soweto Stars 5-4 in a penalty shootout. The Soweto boys were crowned the u/15 champions after defeating Roya City 1-0. In open games, Two Touch beat Hash Tag 5-4 on penalties. In netball, only eight teams participated in the tournament and Real Stars were crowned the champions after defeating Young Stars 6-4 in the finals.

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Netball results:

Semi-finals

• Real Star 1st team won 6-4 against Young Stars
• Real Stars 2nd team won 11-5 against Mockey Stars

Finals

• Real Stars 2nd team won 11-8 against Real Stars 1st team.

Soccer results:

U/15 soccer finals

• Royal Football Academy won 5-4 against Soweto Stars in a penalty shootout Soccer open games
• Two Touch team won 5-4 against Peace Maker team in a penalty shootout
• Black Stars won 1-0 against Minyani
• Mgabiya won 3-2 against Moyeni
• Hash Tag won 5 – 4 against Swallows in a penalty shootout.

Semi-finals

• Hash Tag won 2-0 against Black Stars
• Two Touch won 3-1 against Mgabiya

Finals

Two Touch won 5-4 against Hash Tag in a penalty shootout.