Tshankwa retains Jonah soccer title

Sports Reporter
TSHANKWA Primary School retained the Jonah Primary schoolboys’ soccer title, while Nyabane were crowned the cluster netball champions at the finals held at Nyabane Primary in Bulilima on Friday.

Tshankwa beat Nyabane 1-0 to claim the R5 000 prize money, a trophy and soccer kit. Nyabane pipped Tshankwa 5-4 in the netball final to bag R3 000, a trophy and playing kit.

Six schools took part in the seventh edition of the soccer and netball tournament that is bankrolled by South African-based construction businessman Jonathan Ndlovu.

The schools from Mlomwe cluster are Tshankwa, Bezu, Diba, Phumuza, Mlomwe and hosts Nyabane.

On their way to lifting the boys’ soccer title, Tshankwa whipped Phumuza 7-0 in the first round and knocked out Diba 4-2 on penalties after their game had ended 0-0.

Losing finalists Nyabane beat Bezu 2-0 in the first round and overcame Mlomwe 7-6 in a penalty shootout.

Bongani Ncube of Tshankwa, who scored a hat-trick against Phumuza, and teammate Sandile Nlebhe, who grabbed a brace in the first round and scored the winning goal in the final, shared the tournament’s top goal scorer award with three goals each.

Deloitte Dube from Nyabane was voted player of the tournament.

Doctor Mguni, the tournament organiser, said: “The community is grateful to Ndlovu for his generosity to give youngsters an opportunity to sharpen their skills. We also appreciate his invitation of former footballers to motivate and inspire the youngsters.”