"The Thulamela Municipality is aware of the fact that Tshifudi Stadium does not meet the necessary requirements to host the ABC Motsepe League matches and for that reason we will make sure that a security fence is erected around the pitch as a matter of urgency," said the mayor of the Thulamela Municipality, Cllr Grace Mahosi.
She addressed hundreds of football lovers during the final of the Boy Nemakonde KO competition at the packed Tshifudi Stadium on Saturday. Tshaulu Mighty Powerlines and Munangwe United Brothers battled it out in the final. Powerlines retained the trophy for the third time in a row after beating United Brothers 3-2 after a penalty shoot-out.
The game was evenly contested from the onset. Both sides managed to create scoring chances, but their strikers were unlucky. The keeper of United Brothers, Mandla Baloyi, denied Powerlines numerous sure goals. No goal was scored in official time and in the penalty shoot-out, Powerlines converted three of their five chances through Ben Makeke, Ntshuxeko Simango and Ntsiruweni Mbedzi, while United Brothers scored only two via Example Chauke and Jeffrey Mabasa.
Powerlines were presented with R10 000, gold medals, a floating trophy, soccer kit and six soccer balls during a ceremony at the stadium shortly after the final whistle. The runners-up, Munangwe United, took home R1 500, soccer kit, silver medals and six soccer balls. The third-placed Madandila Happy Boys received R1 000, bronze medals and six soccer balls..
The team that was booted out in the losers' final, Tshaulu Hungry Lions, were given six soccer balls and the teams that lost in the quarterfinals were each given two soccer balls.
Individual awards were presented to Ntshuxeko Simango of Powerlines (top goal scorer), Avhatakali Maungudze of Munangwe United Brothers (best player in the tournament), Mandla Baloyi of United Brothers (best keeper) and Mr Nkhetheni Bohwana of Powerlines (best coach).
Eight teams from Tshaulu and the surrounding villages, Tshaulu Mighty Powerlines, Munangwe United Brothers, Tshaulu Hungry Lions, Madandila Happy Boys, Buluni Happy Boys, Nnduvheni FC, Gunda Blue Birds and Mubvumoni FC, took part in this year's tournament. During the ceremony, the sponsor, Mr Boy Nemakonde, revealed that he will continue to sponsor the tournament in the coming years.