Mashamba Soccer Academy were crowned as the champions of the Thovhele Vho-NTL Mashamba 2023 June 16 soccer tournament that was played at the Mashamba Grounds on Friday. Academy beat Masakona Young Tigers 3-0 in the final match.
The tournament also catered for ladies soccer and U/17 and U/15 sides. The tournament boasted a R400 000 sponsorship.
One of the sponsors, Mr Robert Nesengani of Singo Mining and Plant Hire, stated that they would continue sponsoring the football association, saying this was part of their mission. "It is our obligation to ensure that the society in which we are living is healthy, and sponsoring football is a step in the right direction."
Thovhele Vho-Ndweleni Mashamba appealed to businesspeople to get involved in promoting local activities. He said that no words could express his appreciation for what the sponsors were doing for them. He appealed to other businesspeople to follow these sponsors' example. He added that "it is brutal for businesspeople to enrich themselves at the expense of the people and do nothing in return towards the development of the area".
The champions, Mashamba Soccer Academy, went home with R25 000, a floating trophy, two new soccer kits and gold medals, while the runners-up, Masakona Young Tigers, collected R15 000, silver medals and two new soccer kits. A cash prize of R9 000, along with a soccer-kit and bronze medals, went to Koki FC, who ended in third position. Mukondeni Shooting Stars received R6 000 and a soccer kit for finishing fourth.
In the ladies' division, the champions, Masakona Happy Girls collected R7 000, gold medals and a soccer kit. The runners-up, Makulana Green Dreams, went home with R4 000, silver medals and a soccer kit. Tshivhangani Stone Breakers received R2 000 for ending third.
The U/15 boys' champions are Mashamba Soccer Academy, who banked R3 000 and received gold medals, a trophy and a soccer kit. The runners-up were Stoppers FC and they received R1 500, silver medals and a soccer kit.
Mashamba Record Breakers emerged as the U/17 champions and were awarded R15 000, gold medals, a soccer kit and a trophy. The team that ended in the second position, MPFA, received R10 000, silver medals and a soccer kit.