THOHOYANDOU – The Limpopo East Region of SAFA has received a financial boost in the form of sponsorship from Werda Toyota in Makhado (Louis Trichardt.

The ceremony during which the sponsorship was officially launched was held at the Thohoyandou Arts and Craft Centre last Friday evening. During the ceremony, the NPER’s chairperson for the competition’s committee, Mr Albert Malisha, revealed that the association had run the league without a sponsor last season. That came after their former sponsor, Solly’s Discount World, decided not to renew their sponsorship contract when it expired last year.

That, according to Mr Malisha, has resulted in their going up and down searching for a good samaritan who could pull them out of their financial dilemma. The only business that responded positively to their request was Werda Toyota, who offered to sponsor the league’s Champ of Champs round robin matches.

Teams that participate in the competition are the leaders from each of the five zonal league streams. During the ceremony, Mr Hilbert Sevhugwane, a sales consultant from Werda Toyota, indicated that his company has an open-door policy in as far as assisting the needy is concerned.

He stated that the firm believes in ploughing back a fraction of its profit into the community which is backing it, as a token of appreciation for the support the firm gets from the community. Mr Sevhugwane handed over a cheque of R15 000 to the NPER’s chairperson of the competitions committee, Mr Albert Malisha.

Sevhugwane reiterated that the sponsorship will increase with time, saying that this was the beginning of the long-lasting relationship. The team that will finish on top of the champ of champs round robin matches will take home a cheque of R10 000. The five teams that are participating in the champ of champs matches are Noblehoek All Stars, Ngovhela XI Experience, Vhulaudzi Rampama, Marumo Fase and Gaba Union Fighters.