The inaugural Ward 86 councillor soccer and netball tournament reached its final stages at the Lwandle Sports Complex on Sunday 27 February, when Helderberg Rovers beat Two For Joy by a goal to nil.
The tournament started with 19 soccer teams while netball had nine teams battling it out to have the bragging rights to be called champions.
On the netball field Black Empires beat Ghetto Stars 62-38.
Xolani Diniso, Ward 86 councillor, has promised to have the tournament played annually.
Soccer fanatics came out in their numbers to witness the two teams battling it, and it all came down to the wire.
Helderberg Rovers’ solitary goal was the ultimate decider of the thrilling encounter between the two sides.
An excited Dyakalashe Madolwana, Helderberg Rovers owner, said his boys came out well prepared for the encounter.
“Not so long ago we played the same team, and we were leading 2-0 in the final, but ended up losing the game 3-2,” he said.
“So we were quite prepared for the encounter this time around and are very excited about the victory.”
Madolwana said the high number of people who came to watch the final was an indication the community was longing for such tournaments.
“We were impressed by the running of this tournament, and people really enjoyed themselves as well,” he said. “Such tournaments bring the community together and we need to see many more in the long run.”
Diniso said: “We know sport is a tool that brings social cohesion between the two communities of Nomzamo and Lwandle. When we were planning this tournament we also needed to send a message on social ills such as gender based violence.”
He said it was on that basis netball was also included the tournament, so it could be inclusive.
Diniso said such tournaments also helped in the fight against drugs and alcohol abuse, for people spend time doing something positive instead.
Jerry Bobi, tournament organiser, said he was happy everything went well, and the high numbers of people who attended showed a love for sports in the area.
