Thulamela Municipality will continue to make its sports facilities available to any organization or club for the sake of sports development in the area

The manager of sports and recreation in the municipality, Mr Ronald Makhadi, revealed this during an official launching ceremony of the Build-It U/13 Soccer Tournament at the Thohoyandou branch of the Build-It hardware store last Friday afternoon.

Makhadi appealed to businesspeople who wish to channel a fraction of their business income towards the development of sports to sponsor teenage tournaments, such as the Build-It Tournament. During the ceremony the store manager, Mr Alisdair Campbel, stated that it was his company's policy to plough back some of their profits into the communities in which they operate. Former Bafana Bafana striker Mr Pollen Ndlanya praised the management of the store on their decision to sponsor sports, and football in particular.

The tournament was staged at the Makhuvha Stadium last Saturday. Sixteen teams took part in the one-day event. Malavuwe Young Stars were crowned the champions. They beat Tshikhudini Primary 4-1 in the final. Young Stars received a soccer kit, a floating trophy, 16 sports bags and a soccer ball during a ceremony at the stadium shortly after the final.

Tshikhudini Primary took home soccer kit, 16 sports bags and a soccer ball, while the teams that lost in the semifinal stage, Tshiluvhi Primary and Mulindathavha Junior Swallows, received a consolation prize of a soccer ball each.

Makwarela Matamela of Malavuwe Young Stars was nominated the player of the tournament. He received a trophy and sports bag. Jim Tshivhonelo Primary received the crowd-puller award during the ceremony. The school received 40 packets of cement from Build-It.