Muraga Hazard Hotspurs are still in a joyous mood after they were crowned the champions of the Jericho and Ward 39 Soccer Tournament. The final matches of the tournament were played at the Makhuvha Stadium last Saturday.
Hotspurs beat Banyini Flying Swallows 5-2 in the final to lift the trophy. The winner was determined through a penalty shootout after the teams had played to a 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time.
Hotspurs were presented with a soccer kit, two soccer balls, 22 school bags and a floating trophy during a ceremony that was held at the stadium shortly after the final game. The runners-up, Banyini Flying Swallows, took home a soccer kit, a small trophy and two soccer balls.
Swallows had secured a place in the final after beating Zwaloni FC 4-1 in their quarter-final match. They went on to crush Nweli Stone Breakers 4-3 in their semi-final match. Hotspurs beat Gondeni Young Boys 3-2 in their quarter-final match before crushing Tshamutavha Hot Sand 3-2 in the semi-final stage.
The third-placed side, Nweli Stone Breakers, received a soccer kit and two soccer balls during the ceremony. Stone Breakers had brutally walloped Tshamutavha Hot Sand 6-1 in their losers' final match that was played at the same venue earlier that day. A soccer kit and two soccer balls were presented to the team that finished in fourth position, Tshamutavha Hot Sand. The remaining teams were each presented with a consolation prize of a soccer ball.
The top goal scorer in the tournament, Mutshidzi Ratshihule of Banyini Flying Swallows, was presented with a trophy. He scored six goals in the tournament. Sydney Nenweli of Nweli Stone Breakers, who had scored five goals in the tournament, was also given a trophy. The other recipients of individual awards were Orinea Mudzanani of Hotspurs (best goalkeeper) and Vincent Baloyi from Banyini Flying Swallows (Player of the Tournament). Twelve teams from Malavuwe and the surrounding areas took part in the tournament.