Muswodi Happy Fighters, an affiliate of the SAFA Vhembe League, were crowned champions of the Maanea Soccer Tournament after beating Zwigodini FC 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out during the final held at the Maanea Sports Grounds in Muswodi-Dipeni on Sunday, 3 August.
The team walked away with a grand prize of R8,000 and a trophy.
Tournament organiser Mr Joe Manenzhe said 16 soccer teams from in and around the Niani area had participated in the tournament, which kicked off on Saturday, 26 July. Hundreds of local residents attended the matches.
Zwigodini FC, who finished as runners-up, received R4,000. The teams that finished in third and fourth place each received R2,000, while teams placed fifth to eighth were awarded R800 each.
Manenzhe added that, in honour of Women's Month, several young female referees were invited to officiate. "This also helped them market themselves to bigger teams, especially as a well-known coach from Black Leopards FC attended the tournament," he said.
One of the highlights of the event was local youth Mbofho Nethengwe, who served as the tournament's sports announcer. He said he was thrilled to be given the platform and saw it as a step towards a future career in broadcasting. "I've always enjoyed sports, and being the announcer at the tournament has brought me some fame. I hope it gave me a chance to market myself. Who knows — everything starts small, and I could end up working as a sports announcer at a bigger radio station, earning good money," said Nethengwe.