LIMPOPO – The soccer challenge which started on Freedom Day, 27 April, ended on Sunday, 30 April. Six teams participated and Mulenzhe Shooting Star and Khakhanwa Barcelona played in the final.
One of the organisers of the Hosi Yo Lungha Soccer Challenge, Ntsako Mabasa said the tournament was able to draw hundreds of people from in around Mulenzhe Ha-Pietbooi village outside Thohoyandou.
“We understand that if young people are not kept busy, some of them end up doing crime and we decided to do something for them.
“We also organized a music festival, where Hosi Yo Lungha and Vasati va Shibambu, also entertained the people,” said Mabasa.
According to Kaizer Shibambu, aka Hosi Yo Lungha (his name while playing music ) said he was born and raised in Ha-Pietbooi in the Mulenzhe area and used to play soccer in the village.
Shibambu was speaking on Sunday at the Mulenzhe Ha-Pietbooi sportsground while giving away prizes to the winning team and the best players of the tournament.
He said he used to donate soccer kits and balls to teams around Mulenzhe so that the young players could take playing soccer seriously.
The two teams that reached the finals received soccer balls, while the winning team received R2 000, a floating trophy and 25 gold medals.
In the final round of the tournament, Khakhanwa Barcelona beat Mulenzhe Shoot Star in a penalty shoot-out. Alex Mafunise, Captain of Khakhanwa Barcelona, said he was overjoyed when his team won first place.”
“We really practiced very hard and worked together as a team.
“We aim to be one of the best soccer teams in the Vhembe region and to be a feeder for the Black Leopard FC,” he said.
