Dibaba Stars crowned champions

The Sihle Mtshali Tournament Top 16 at Greenhouse Grounds, Lawley 2, kept football lovers entertained from August 5 to 12.

People from all walks of life supported their favourite teams.

Football matches

The tournament opening, a match between LTW (Ennerdale) and SGS (Lawley), served the spectators with beautiful football to set the stage for the upcoming matches.

The team played the first round of the last 16 matches on August 5, while the quarter-finals were on August 9.
The semi-finals and finals were on August 12. Dibaba Stars (Soweto) and DB Burundi (Lawley) played in the final.

Final match

Spectators packed the Greenhouse Grounds, betting on their favourite team to clinch the title. The match started with both teams being too tactical and technical as they played it safe.

Mduduzi Marenene, Burundi’s winger, nearly broke the deadlock as he received a pass from Siphasihle Zwane but took it wide.

Just 10 minutes after the start of the second half, Dibaba Stars opened with scoring from a mistake from Burundi’s goalkeeper Ayanda Khumalo failing to handle the ball.

Dibaba Stars held on to that goal which saw them crowned champions of the Sihle Mtshali Top 16 tournament.
The tournament organiser, Sibonelo ‘Pastor’ Mtshali, said, “Congratulations to Dibaba Stars for making history in Lawley.

“In U20, DB Burundi has not been beaten for about two years at Greenhouse, but Dibaba Stars stunned everyone. I am happy that people came in numbers and enjoyed our football. To all the teams that participated, thank you to all of them,” said Pastor.

Teams that participated included DB Burundi (Lawley), SGS (Lawley), Layoso ( Lawley), KvK (Lawley), Real Stars ( Lenasia South), Dream Team (Lenasia South), Vaal Manchester (Vaal), Juventus (Majazane), Whooves (Majazane), Wolves (Majazane), River Park (Soweto), Dibaba Stars (Soweto), Phiri Logan ( Soweto) and LTW ( Ennerdale).

In other events:

Layoso Academy won the Netball Top 4
Spartans clinched the U13 trophy in football.