The richest soccer tournament in the Nzhelele area — the NJM Foundation Top Eight — was officially launched during a ceremony at Mavhunga Kwamax on 4 August.
The competition features eight teams from the Nzhelele region who finished in the top four positions of SAFA Vhembe Stream G1 and G2. The tournament offers generous prizes, with the winners walking away with R50,000, two new soccer kits, gold medals, a floating trophy and a soccer ball. The runners-up will receive R25,000, two kits, silver medals and a ball.
Teams finishing third and fourth will each get R15,000, a kit and a ball, while those knocked out in the quarter-finals will receive R10,000 and a kit each.
Tournament organiser Mr Lucky Tshilimandila said the initiative aimed to nurture young talent at grassroots level. He praised the sponsors for helping to identify and support emerging players in the region.
"All eight teams have also been asked to select 25 poor families from their villages to receive food parcels, and 10 learners each who will receive school shoes," he said.
"Despite tough economic conditions, it's encouraging to see companies willing to give back and support sport," Tshilimandila added.
The matches will be played at Rabali Stadium.