RICHARDS BAY – A senior correspondent of Mirror, Mr Frank Mavhungu, rubbed the noses of reporters of other newspapers into the dirt when he won the award for the best print journalist of the season, awarded by the organisers of the Castle Regional League.

Journalists from all over the country participated in the competition. He received R2 000 and a trophy during the prize-giving ceremony of the Castle Regional League, that took place in Richards Bay on Saturday afternoon.

Mr Thilivhali Muavha of Univen Radio won the award for the radio sports presenter of the season, while a freelancer from Port Elizabeth, Mr Charles Pullen, was the winner of the photographer of the season category.

Fabulous prizes were dished out to the top four teams that took part in the Castle Regional League play-off matches that were played at the Esikhawini Stadium in Richards Bay last week. The finals were played at the same venue on Saturday. A team from Pietermaritzburg in Kwazulu Natal, Sobantu Football Club, are the 2003 champions. They beat Zwigodini Real Vikings 2-1 in the finals. Sobantu Football Club received a cash prize of R12 000 and a trophy during a prize-giving ceremony that was held at the stadium after the last match.

The striker for Sobantu Football Club, Sandile Ndlovu, was nominated the player of the tournament. He received a cheque of R3 000 for his achievement. Another cheque of R2 000 was given to the same player in honour of his being the top goal scorer. He scored nine goals in the week-long tournament.

The player who was voted as the man of the match in each of the matches was given an amount of R300 after the game. The second-placed Zwigodini Real Vikings took home an amount of R8 000 and a trophy. The third prize of R5 000 was given to Premier United FC from Western Cape.

Sasolburg Juventus took home an amount of R3 000. They ended fourth in the tournament after losing 2-8 to Premier United in the losers' finals.