Tshaulu Sports Academy were crowned the 2018 champions of the Khethi Gavhi Soccer Tournament, which took place at the Mushiru grounds in Tshaulu on Sunday.
Sports Academy beat Buluni Happy Boys 1-0 in the final. Tshaulu Sports Academy's way to the final went via New Discovery FC, whom they beat 2-1 in the quarter-final, and Lambani Home Defenders lost 2-0 to them in their semi-final match.
Academy received R2 000, soccer kit, a floating trophy, gold medals and a soccer ball during a ceremony at the grounds shortly after the final. They were also nominated as the best team in the tournament and received another cash prize of R500, sponsored by a local construction company, Mathacs Civils.
The runners-up, Buluni Happy Boys, went home with R1 500 and a soccer ball. The third-placed side, Lambani Home Defenders, received R500 and a soccer ball during the ceremony. Tshaulu Hungry Lions, who lost 1-3 to Lambani Home Defenders in their losers' final, received R250 and a soccer ball.
Owen Netshilaphala of Tshaulu Soccer Academy received the Player of the Tournament award. Humbulani Simba of Buluni Happy Boys and Alufheli Lindelani of Lambani Home Defenders shared the Top Goal Scorer award. The coach of Tshaulu Soccer Academy, Mr Azwihangwisi Ramukhadi, received the Best Coach award.
Although Begwa United Brothers beat Lambani Home Defenders 3-1 in their opening match on Saturday, they did not feature in the semi-final stage. This after they were dismissed from the tournament for fielding improperly registered players in their quarter-final match against Lambani Home Defenders. Home Defenders were afforded an opportunity to play in the semi-final stage following Begwa's dismissal.
During the ceremony, the sponsor of the tournament, Mr Khethi Gavhi, revealed that he would continue to sponsor the tournament in the coming years, saying the sponsorship amount would also increase with time