The Fistos Mafela Soccer Challenge was officially launched at Madimbo on Saturday, backed by a sponsorship of R80,000. The tournament will feature 16 teams from the Musina and Niani area.
Tournament organiser Mr Raul Ndanduleni said the initiative aimed to encourage young people to participate in sports while also prioritising their education. "A career in sports is not permanent, but with education, one is secure for life and has something to fall back on when days are dark on the soccer field," he said.
The winning team will walk away with R20,000, a soccer kit, a ball, and gold medals. The runners-up will receive R10,000, a soccer kit, and silver medals. The teams finishing in third and fourth place will be awarded R3,000 and R2,500 respectively, along with soccer balls.
The tournament kicks off in mid-December, with the final match scheduled for 24 December at Madimbo Stadium. The event is sponsored by Musina Municipality's Chief Whip, Fistos Mafela.