Orlando Chauke
LIMPOPO – VARIOUS teams from the Greater Giyani Municipality’s 30 wards battled it out at the Giyani Stadium over the weekend to be crowned champions of the 2015 Mayor’s Tournament.
With a cash prize of R20 000 for the winners in the men’s soccer division and R13 000 in the women’s soccer division, this year’s tournament attracted many spectators from across the 30 wards, including several soccer scouts.
Shivulani Dangerous Tigers from Ward 15 beat Nkuri Hungry Lions of Ward 5 4-3 in the men’s soccer division and walked away with the R20 000 prize, as well as gold medals.
The second place winners received R15 000 and silver medals.
The team in third place received R8 000, as well as bronze medals, while the team in fourth place received R6 000.
Brave Ladies, who defended their champion title for the 10th consecutive year, won 2-0 against Real Mighty Girls.
They walked away with R13 000, as well as gold medals.
The second place winners received R10 000 and silver medals.
The team in third place received R7 000 and bronze medals, while the team in fourth place received R5 000.
All the participants in the finals walked away with a little something to cheer them up back home.
“The aim of the tournament is to contribute towards the development of sport in the Greater Giyani Municipality through nurturing and supporting talent among young people,” said the Giyani mayor, Pat Hlungwani.
The mayor congratulated both the losers and the winners, and urged those who had lost to try their best next year.
“The fact that you have lost today does not mean that it will remain that way, you still have the chance to win the cup next year,” Hlungwani encouraged the competitors.
The prizes could not be awarded at the time due to load shedding, but the mayor said a small prize-giving ceremony would be held at a later date.
