Will Mandla-ku-Lova retain the Zama-Zama cup?

The opening matches for the annual Zama-Zama Sports Challenge Tournament will be played at the Homu 14B Grounds outside Giyani from next Monday, 18 December.

The opening match will be between Secha Six FC and New Castle FC, starting at 10:00. Ngove Mapantsula will meet Nyolosi FC in the second fixture, which is scheduled to kick off at 12:00, followed by the match between Gawula Academy and Super Aces. The hosts, KYD FC, will entertain Mandla_Ku-Lova FC and will wrap up the day’s programme.

Whether Mandla-Ku-Lova will manage to retain the trophy is something that remains to be seen. Mandla-Ku-Lova had beaten Ngove Masipala in the final last year to lift the trophy.

The second batch of matches will be played at the same venue on Tuesday. Homu Fighters will have a date with Kotoko FC in the opening match. Shawela Madrid will take on Homu the Rock shortly after the first game. The third match will be between Kulani Ama2000 and Gawula Crystal Palace. Mapayeni Bay Hill will try their luck against Giyani All Stars later in the afternoon.

Wednesday’s fixtures are Makosho Wonderboys vs Homu Manchester FC, Mninginisi All Stars vs Skambako River Side, Dzekula Sky FC vs Mageva Ngangi Rollers and Nkomo Phunya Selesee vs JBFM FC. The four fixtures for next Thursday 21, December, are Jeaneth All Stars vs Nwa-Khuwani Metro FC, Dynamos FC vs Mjolo FC, Gawula Arsenal vs Mtititi Squad and Nkuri United vs Nkomo XI Experience. The final will be played at the same venue on Sunday, 31 December.

According to the founder and sponsor of the tournament, Mr Victor Hlungwani, this year’s champions will take home a whopping R60,000, a floating trophy, gold medals and a soccer kit. The runners-up will receive R30,000, silver medals and a soccer kit. Teams booted out in the semi-final stage will each receive R10,000. All the players of the teams that will participate in the final will each be presented with R200. Ladies’ soccer teams and netball teams from Giyani and the surrounding areas will also participate in the tournament.  

Date:16 December 2023

By: Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990.  He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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