The mayor of the Makhado Municipality, Cllr David Mutavhatsindi, officially launched the 2016 mayoral sports tournament on Monday. The competition is financed to the tune of R140 000 and some prize money awaits the winners.

The launch was held at the municipal chambers and it was announced that the tournament will cater for soccer, netball, rugby, boxing, basketball and also a fun walk.

Mutavhatsindi said that the municipality was still prepared to sponsor different sporting codes and that the main aim of the competition was to increase the popularity of sport. He appealed to the players to remain disciplined, both on and off the field of play. “Talent and skill without discipline will never take you anywhere,” he said.

Mutavhatsindi added that without the commitment of the participating teams, the tournament would have not have grown to its current stature.  “We remain indebted to all the participating teams. We are humbled by your commitment to the cause of charity. In you, we see the true epitome of ubuntu.”

The chairperson of the Makhado sports council, Mr Obby Moseboa, appealed to club officials and players not to involve themselves in wrongdoing, such as bribery and assault of referees, saying that would not only bring the tournament into disrepute, but would also tarnish the image of the municipality. A representative from the Makhado Local Football Association, Mr Freddy Phathela, applauded the relationship between the association and the municipality. He praised the mayoral budget for channelling money into the development of amateur sports.

The tournament will held at Vleifontein's Sampson Phophi Stadium on 25 March.

The champions of the soccer will receive R3 000, gold medals and a floating trophy and sports kit. The runners-up will take home R1 500, silver medals and new kit. The third-placed team will receive R750 and bronze medals, while R750 is awaiting the fourth-placed team. The winners of the other sporting codes, excluding, boxing and fun walk winners, will get R2 000, gold medals and kit and runners-up will pocket R1 000, silver medals and sports kit.