Netball supporters came in large numbers to watch the much anticipated final match between the Lwandle rivals Black Empires and Black Diamond on Saturday 30 April at Lwandle stadium.
Empires hammered Diamonds 36-25 and became the champions of the Nophephela Memorial Tournament 2022.
Empires coach Dimpho Lephallo described the tournament as a good initiative to showcase the talent in the area. He said the vibe and atmosphere during the tournament was superb.
“People like and enjoy watching sports. Since the tournament started people were glued to watching their teams,” said Laphallo.
He said even though his team was not well prepared because of circumstances, it managed to overcome.
“My players had a fighting spirit. Diamond beat us in the group stage. So, the final was a payback time for us,” said Laphallo adding that there were only eight teams that participated in the tournament.
However, he stated that the tournament had revived the player’s self-esteem.
“Even though we were playing for fun, the results had a positive impact on the team. The players are excited and looking forward to next season,” he said.
Laphallo said they play in the Cape Northern Sub District in Bellville.