Last Friday was payday for the teams campaigning under the banner of the Sinthumule/Kutama (Sinku) Community Sport Development Soccer Challenge.

During the ceremony that took place at the Benny’s Care Hall, the president of the Makhado LFA, Mr Joseph Maphaha, appealed to the people to refrain from assaulting match officials. He also reiterated the fact that it was bad for the teams to win matches through the bribing of officials. He appealed to the management committee of the organization to liaise with the local football association to assist development teams and praised the organisers for their good work in connection with development in the area.

One of the sponsors, Attorney Desmond Mphaphuli, stated that they would continue sponsoring the football association, saying it was part of their mission. "It is our obligation to ensure that the society in which we are living is healthy, and sponsoring football is a step in the right direction."

The chairperson of Sinku Community Sport Development, Mr Scara Tshigomana, praised the sponsors for their decision to sponsor football. "I'm very proud that we have grown young people of real quality," he said. He stated that he was convinced that the league would produce stars who would receive international recognition soon. He indicated that football had risen to be the world's number one sport in terms of participation and spectatorship.

The champions, Baroka FC, went home with R10 000, a floating trophy, new soccer kit and gold medals, while the runners-up, Madombidzha Western Stars, collected R6 000, silver medals and new soccer kit. R3 000, a new soccer kit and bronze medals went to Muraleni United, who ended in third position.

Zamenkomste Liverpool received R2 000 and new soccer kit for finishing fourth. The four teams that lost in the quarterfinals went home with R800 each and the other participating teams that lost in the earlier rounds received smaller amounts of cash.

Oscar Leaka and Lucky Masutha of Madombidzha Western Stars were named players of the tournament, while Mpho Muligwa and Renias Ramalata of Baroka FC were nominated as goalkeeper and coach of the tournament.