KWAMHLANGA – Jaguars from Mountain View, KwaMhlanga, were crowned champions of the Phola Mall Top 8 Netball Tournament after defeating Trojan 26-20 in the final at Phola Mall on Saturday, 21 August.
The annual tournament brought together eight teams from Thembisile Hani Local Municipality, with supporters gathering at the mall to watch the day’s matches.
In the semi-finals, Jaguars defeated Team Mosha 35-17, while Trojan from Buhlebesizwe 2 beat Fire Birds 34-14 to secure their place in the final.
Fire Birds secured third place after leading Team Mosha 10-8 at half-time before going on to win 17-14.
In the final, Jaguars led Trojan 13-7 at half-time. Trojan fought back in the second half, but Jaguars held on to win 26-20 and lift the trophy.
Speaking to Highveld Chronicle after the victory, Jaguars head coach Sibongile Mohohole praised her players for their determination.
"It was not an easy game from the beginning. The girls were striving for a goal and they played with their hearts. They wanted to win from the start and fortunately they claimed victory. I am very happy for them because they have proven that they want this," said Mohohole.
She said tournaments like these are vital for keeping young girls away from social ills.
"Such games help our children to develop through sport and shy away from drugs and teenage pregnancy. Most of our girls are aged 10 to 18 and are most vulnerable. With initiatives hosted by Phola Mall, our girls stay active with a positive mindset," said Mohohole.
"We hope we can get sponsors so this does not end here. We wish to one day see our girls on TV playing for national teams and pursuing sport as a career," she added.
Phola Mall assistant manager Linaka Ditsego said the tournament forms part of the mall's community outreach programme.
"We believe sport empowers young girls and keeps them focused. We engage with different teams around Thembisile Hani and surrounding areas to host games as our way of giving back and improving lives. Our main objective is to promote youth development through sport," said Ditsego.
Shopper Lindiwe Mkhabela also welcomed the initiative and commended Phola Mall for investing in the community.
"This is a great initiative that Phola Mall is doing. They are keeping our children busy, away from drugs and other negative influences. They are developing them through sport and recreation. We are very grateful because they are investing back into the community," said Mkhabela.
Thembisile Hani Local Municipality Chairperson for Sports Council, Sarah Mnisi, commended Phola Mall and all participating teams.
"I am very proud of all the teams and all the girls. I am also proud of how the coaches have developed their children. This is a great initiative," said Mnisi.
"As a local municipality, we try by all means to protect our youth. Partnering with Phola Mall in such an initiative shows that we encourage sport in our area. This is how they practice Corporate Social Investment (CSI), giving back to the community and investing back as a big business," she said.
Mnisi also thanked parents for allowing their children to participate and called for more support.
"I am very proud of the parents who allow their children to participate. This helps a lot in developing a child, especially through sport. Our girls are very fit, positive-minded and focused. All we need is more sponsors so that our girls can travel across the province, nationally and even abroad. Not so long ago some of them went to Cape Town to represent us, and that is the development we want to see," she said.
"We encourage everyone to take their children to participate in sport or any activity that will help them shy away from drugs and teenage pregnancy. Through sport we are able to gather children and instill positivity in their minds," she added.
The tournament ended with calls for other businesses to support similar youth development initiatives.
