Individual award winners and GTM councillors.
By: Refilwe Sebola
The 2023 Greater Tzaneen Mayor’s Cup was simply the best.
This year the star studded event that made its return after it was discontinued in 2018 was in its prime. Unlike in the past where the event was mainly about youth soccer development this time around it took a broader approach and included other activities such as Netball, Ncuba/Moruba and Marathon. Moreso the football category also included ladies soccer, masters and workers clubs for the first time in the history of the event.
The tournament was played in a knockout format and operated from the ward, cluster and Municipality level. All winners from the cluster level met in the finals in Nkowankowa stadium last weekend to crown the champions in all the categories.
In Men’s football development, the hard tackling Mohlaba Naughty Boys were crowned U-21 champions following their hard fought victory over Sedan on penalties. The game had ended in a 0-0 stalemate in normal time.
In ladies U-21 soccer, the brilliant Sisters FC from Mandlakazi beat Sofaya by a solitary goal to be crowned champions. Relela Masters beat Mokgwathi on penalties in the masters soccer final while Letaba Hospital beat Rooikopies also on penalties to be crowned champions in the workers category.
In Netball, NCR beat Mabokwa Queens to win the Netball Development Award while the South African Police Services emerged winners of the workers final with a victory against GTM workers.
In Nguva/ Moruba Lesedi who also won the female category beat Bulamahlo to be crowned champions. All the winners in their categories will receive their awards in a special award ceremony to be held at the municipality in a date to be announced soon.
However, the individual awards where given to the winners last Saturday after the games. In boys soccer development category, the best player of the tournament award went to Tiyani of Naughty Boys, goalkeeper of the tournament went to Theo Mabuza of Sedan while Hlayisani of Naughty Boys took home the best coach award.
In the girls soccer development Lethobo Moloto was the biggest winner after she took both the best player of the tournament and the top goal scorer awards. Best Goalkeeper and best coach awards went to Shamaine and Joey Shikwambana of Sisters respectively.
In the Netball category NCR’s Peggy Phakula and Judy Lukheri won the player of the tournament and best goal shooter award respectively. Best coach award went to Vincent Ratobela of Maboka Queens. All the individual award winners each took home R500 prize money.
Naughty Boys are the Champions of the 2023 GTM Mayor’s Cup.
Tiyani of Naughty Boys won the best player of the tournament award.