Mandala Hot Chilies are champions

For the third time in a row Mandala Hot Chillies were crowned the champions of the Mulaudzi Bus Service tournament for the elderly. It took place at the Mushaathoni grounds in Sendedza Tshavhalovhedzi on Wednesday.

Since the tournament started in 2016, Chillies have been dominating it. This year, the tournament was divided into two categories, one for ages between 40 and 59 and one for the gogos over 60. Hot Chillies won both categories. The tournament is played yearly on Human Rights Day.

Eight teams participated in this year's tournament, four in each age group. Tshixwadza, the newcomers of the tournament, were humiliated by the gogos of Hot Chillies when they knocked them out of the tournament during the first round 4-0. In another first-round match, the gogos of Sendedza Queens beat Tshithuthuni Princesses 2-0. In the final, Mandala defeated the Queens 1-0.

In the ladies challenge first round, the match between Mandala and Queens ended in a 1-1 draw. Mandala eventually beat the Queens 3-1 on penalties. The second match was also decided on penalties and Tshithuthuni beat Dopeni 3-2. In the final, Mandala beat Tshithuthuni 4-0.

The manager of Mulaudzi Bus Services, the organizers of the tournament, said that the aim of the tournament was to create a form of exercise for old people. "We also look at the fact that old people don’t have a a lot of things to do and are usually bored and lonely. This tournament is a platform for keeping them busy, healthy and making new friends.”

Date:29 March 2018

By: Maanda Bele

Maanda  Bele, born and raised in Nzhelele Siloam, studied journalism at the Tshwane University of Technology.

He is passionate about current news and international affairs.

He worked as part of the Zoutnet team as an intern in 2017.

He is currently a freelance journalist specialising in news from the Vhembe district.

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