Team Mpumalanga improved on last year’s eight-spot finish when they came fourth at this year’s National Indigenous Games Festival (NIGF).
The NIGF was held at Seshego Stadium in Polokwane from September 23 to 28.
MEC for culture, sport and recreation, Norah Mahlangu said as a department they were encouraged by the team’s performance and hoped that it would inspire others to go for glory at future games.
She attributed the team’s success to their three-day training camp at Blyde Canyon, A Forever Resort, in preparation for the games.
“The athletes have done a great job and we are delighted by their sterling performance. We want to thank the players and the coaches for getting them ready for the games,” said Mahlangu.
The KwaZulu-Natal champions’ successfully defended their tittle as they took top spot and received gold. The host, Limpopo obtained silver and North-West finished in third place, attaining a bronze medal.
Team Mpumalanga’s male drie stokkies made a clean sweep in the category through Sibusiso Ngwenya, who came first and received a gold, followed by his teammate, Alpha Nyathi, who came in second to clinch a silver medal.
Derrick Masina completed the podium when he came third and won bronze.
Sifiso Bhomela won the morabaraba code with flying colours, bringing the team’s medal tally to four.
“After last year’s disappointment of taking eight place, we had to do something to stop the decline and the training camp was a good start. Next year we will be pushing for a podium finish,” added Mahlangu.
Team Mpumalanga’s 132 players participated in the following codes: diketo (coordination game), dibeke (running game), kho kho (running game), morabaraba (board game), (board game), jukskei (target game), kgati (rope jumping), intonga (stick fighting) and drie stokkies.
