SAPPHIRE Ladies FC and City Strikers’ FC were both crowned champions of the Nelson Mandela Legacy Youth Tournament.
Sapphire Ladies’ FC won 5–4 against Coastal United Ladies’ FC on penalties, while City Strikers won 3–0 against United Warriors FC.
The tournament started on Friday with the screening of players, and the games then started on Saturday with the semi-finals, and the finals were held on Sunday.
The tournament was organised by both City Strikers and Coastal Ladies’ FC, and sponsored by TBHIV CARE.
The winners both received soccer kit plus gold medals; second place received soccer kit plus silver medals, while third position got bronze medals.
Ndumiso Nkala, head coach of Sapphire Ladies’ FC, said the win will boost the confidence of the players going to the opening of the league matches on August 24.
“This is a positive win to boost the confidence of the players as we are going to kick off our first league match on August 24,” said Nkala.
“The matches were competitive;- it shows that women’s football is growing in Mthatha.”
Nkala said all they want is the support from the parents and business people, emphasising that women’s football is a good initiative.
Sapphire Ladies was founded by Xolani Velem back in 2022, and the intention was to develop women’s football.
In boys’ soccer, position one was City Strikers’ FC (gold medal), position two United Warriors FC (silver medal), and third position was Mthatha West FC (bronze medal).
The tournament was attended by many dignitaries from the Department of Sport and other organisations.
The Nelson Mandela Legacy Youth Tournament was supposed to be held in July but was postponed.
