NGQAMAKHWE-born and premier soccer league referee, Akhona “Sheref” Makalima, in partnership with Ngculu Zebra Rugby team, are expected to host a two-day tournament at Ngqamakhwe Stadium, the Zolile multi-purpose sports complex, on March 29 and 30.
Teams from Mnquma and surrounding areas are expected to compete in three different sporting codes, soccer, netball and rugby, during the event.
The aim of the event is to contribute to the development of sport, particularly in rural areas where there is a lack of good sports equipment.
An event organiser, Xhadi Makalima, said it will be the first time they host the event, and they are hoping to host it every year.
“Our main aim is to host this event every year, because we want to contribute to the development of sport in our areas,” said Makalima.
He said they have invited Centane King Hintsa Tvet College, Walter Sisulu University Bika Campus, and Walter Sisulu University Queenstown Campus, to come with their teams to participate in the event.
The aim of inviting these institutions is to build a partnership between local teams and varsities, so that they can help each other in developing players.
Makalima said they have also invited ladies’ rugby teams to participate in the event, and that there is no affiliation fee that needs to be paid in any sporting code when a team is interested in taking part.
Furthermore, he said that the teams who perform well in each sporting code at the event will go home with training equipment worth R10 000.
He concluded by saying that next year they are hoping to add high school teams to the tournament, and they also want to add prize money if possible, but their main aim is to empower local teams with training equipment.
