Leading loud and proud from the front in true Lions style, #ThePrideOfJozi celebrated the finals of the third edition of the Diadora Jozi Cup on June 15.
Starting from U11, flowing through to veterans, the seven-week T20 competition kicked off in May and was a display of blending experienced players with aspirational youth.
More than 85 000 runs were conceded and 4 100 wickets were taken during 450 matches. Cricket was played with solid sportsmanship, freedom of expression, and genuine appreciation, while all the players kept a steely eye on the hunt for their coveted 2024 divisional trophy.
The biggest and only Lions Cricket officially endorsed winter cricket tournament in the province, the Diadora Jozi Cup incorporates Lions Cricket’s pipeline system known as the Telkom Talent Acceleration Programme, unearthing talent, and unleashing promise to further develop the game. When an U13 has the highest individual score of 196 throughout all divisions and an U18 takes nine wickets, conceding one run in a match – that is proof of a pipeline packed with promise.
Tournament director Reuben Mandlazi said the quality of cricket coupled with intense concentration and high pressure was what made the tournament the best one yet.
“Designed with our clubs in mind, this tournament has served our purposes well; the true sense of community coupled with intense competition, from players to families to administrators.”
Mandlazi added the tournament’s founding values of inclusivity, diversity, fairness, equity, and equality shone through, with every club, player, coach, umpire, scorer, parent, and administrator serving the ‘pride’ proudly and giving the game the privilege and honour it deserved.
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The results were as follows:
- FVA Sandton Tigers won the U11 division in 2023 to come back in 2024 and claim the U13 title.
- The Jeppe U13 team lost their final in 2023 but came back in 2024 as the U14 team to take the victory.
- Khosa U18 took to the field for their second Diadora Jozi Cup Final match in two seasons.
- Randburg had four teams taking to the field throughout the finals.
- Renegades, with three teams in the finals, reigned supreme by winning all three divisions.
- The Jeppe Veterans and Johannesburg Society for the Blind teams keep their titles for their respective divisions for the second year in a row.
- Old Edwardian’s fielded teams in the back-to-back Senior Open and Men’s Open division finals, winning both.
2024 Diadora Jozi Cup Winners:
- U11 Winners: Randburg Blue, Randburg Cricket Club
- U13 Winners: FVA Sandton Tigers Cricket Club
- U14 Winners: Jeppe Cricket Club
- Women’s Open Winners: Renegades Cricket Club
- U16 Winners: Renegades Cricket Club
- U18 Winners: Renegades Cricket Club
- Senior Open Winners: GM Old Edwardian’s Cricket Club
- Men’s Open Winners: GM Old Edwardian’s Cricket Club
- Blind Cricket Winners: Johannesburg Society for the Blind Cricket Club
- Veterans Winners: Jeppe Cricket Club.
