Four teams from different regions under the auspices of the Makhado Local Football Association will fight for the championship of the PCO Soccer Challenge, sponsored by a member of parliament, Mr Moses Tseli.

Initially eight teams participated, but four teams have already been eliminated from the event.

The four teams, Muraida Youth Development, Gogobole Bucs, Rabali Pull Together and Mailaskop Action Killers, will meet at the Rabali Stadium on Sunday.

The coach of Rabali Pull Together, Mr Goddy Ramapundu, said the team had received tremendous support from the team management and the community. “Just getting to the semifinals has made a difference to the boys in terms of confidence and motivation,” he added.

Mr Naledzani Ndouvhada of Mailaskop Action Killers said that the players were excited about going to the finals. “They talk as if they have already won. It shows the level of commitment that they have,” he said.

The manager/coach of Muraida Youth Development, Mr Muraida Netshivhulana, said that the team had been participating in different competitions around the district. “I’m happy that I am the coach that made it possible for them to get this far in the competition. The boys are very happy about making it to the semifinals. I hope that they will eventually get good results.”

The coach of Bucs, Mr Makana Phadziri, expressed his joy with the team’s performances. He added that their preparations were well underway “and my boys are looking forward to this challenge. The players are young and inexperienced, but have been playing for a few years now, so they know each other well. I can see them getting more and more confident as the days progress.”

Mr Tseli said that football had the ability to develop and unite people and had also shown itself to be a fantastic medium through which young people could learn the values of discipline, team work and good health, all while having fun. 

The winners will go home with R3 000, a floating trophy, gold medals and a new soccer kit. The runners-up will receive R1 500, silver medals and a new soccer kit. The team in third position will receive R1 000 and the team ending in fourth position will pocket R800.

The four teams booted out in the first round will get R400 each.