Last Saturday was another harvest day for teams campaigning under the banner of the Thulamela Local Football Association (LFA) last season.
The ceremony during which R330 000 in prize money was distributed to 131 teams was held at the 2 Ten Hotel in Sibasa. The champions from each of the ten streams received R7 000 during the ceremony.
Teams that finished on top of their respective streams are: Tshaulu Powerlines, Sidou Peace Makers, Budeli United, Beuster Mighty Chiefs, Voweto Maximum Force, Mbilwi New Generations, Tshidzini Happy Fighters, Gondeni United, Makuya Try Again and Matangari Rising Stars. During the ceremony, it was announced that all the champions from the 10 streams would be promoted to the SAB League.
Teams that finished in the second position were each given R4 500.
The general manager of Professional Insurance Brokers and MTG Funerals, Mr Shudu Magwabeni, said that his companies would sponsor the league to the tune of R150 000 next season. According to him, the companies will again sponsor the league's knockout competition.
He appealed to the club officials to refrain from calling him to share with him the challenges they come across at soccer matches, saying he knew nothing about the administration of football. "We are mere sponsors of the league and we do not interfere in the running of the league," he added. During the ceremony, Magwabeni presented a cheque to the value of R150 000 to the administrator of the league, Mr Moses Maluleke.
The president of SAFA Vhembe Regional League, Mr George Kubayi, praised the sponsors for channelling a portion of their business profit towards the development of football at grassroots level. He said that the Thulamela Local Football Association was the biggest LFA in the country. Kubayi further indicated that they will launch the Gwede Mantashe Foundation Soccer Tournament in two months' time.
During the ceremony, it was announced that the activities for the new season will commence on the first weekend of January next year.