The Rep 27 November 2020

THE REPRESENTATIVE 27 November 2020 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 19
SPORT SCENE
graphic © liudmyla pushnova / 123RF.com
Valgas clinch off-season event
Soccer makes welcome return
NTSIKELELO QOYO
Valgas FC is bringing
soccer back to the
people. The Komani
football club hosted an
invitational tournament last
weekend at Nomzamo, to the
glee of many fans who came out
to see local teams duel for
bragging rights.
Komani Conquerors FC, MK
Academy, Katura XI, Zimbani
FC, Try Again FC and hosts
Valgas were all jockeying for the
first prize of R1,800, having
each put up R400 to participate.
The proceedings kicked off
on Saturday, with fixtures
decided over a draw in a singlematch
elimination format.
The day belonged to hosts
Valgas who eased past Komani
Conquerors 2-1, its only match
en route to the final.
The second finalist, MK
Academy, had to dig deep after
being held to 1-1 by Zimbani,
winning the match 4-3 in
penalties. They came out
strongly in the second match,
netting five goals without reply
against Try Again FC, who beat
Katura FC in their first match.
The eventual winner of the
final, which was played on the
Sunday in a packed stadium,
was Valgas. After a first half in
which neither side scored, it
was Someleze Dephane’s brace
in the second that sealed it,
although MK Academy
managed to pull a goal back in
the last five minutes courtesy of
Azola Mcwaleni.
MK Academy coach
Bulelani Sindelo said they were
happy to get back on the field
after Covid-19 had ended their
league season prematurely.
“We regarded the
tournament as a preseason
event. We also fielded young
boys in our strategy to integrate
them for next season,” he said.
Valgas owner Phumelele
Hlati said he was happy with the
overall tournament, which was
also an opportunity to get his
team back on the field.
“It went well. We had a
good turnout from the clubs we
invited. It was a very good
exercise that was a joy for the
spectators. The players were
very enthusiastic about getting
back on to the field because
they were sitting for six to eight
months doing nothing,” he said.
GOING FOR GOAL: Valgas FC, in blue, play Komani Conquerors FC during an off-season tournament played at Nomzamo over
the weekend Picture: NTSIKELELO QOYO
CLASS IN SESSION:
Participants were at
Queen’s College on
Sunday for the Border
Cricket clinic for
umpiring and score
keeping. The clinic was
hosted in partnership
with the department of
sport, recreation, arts
and culture and the
Chris Hani Cricket
Association
Picture: NTSIKELELO
QOYO
Around the
G re e n s
Social Bowls:
Michele Morris, Rowan De Kock
and Karen Geyer 16, Esme Barraud,
Reaan Geyer and Stompie Kriedeman
9, Nico Visser, Gert Fritz, and Petrus
Barnardo 24, Anthony Brown, Jolien
Fritz and Jacques Van Der Schyf 9.
Border hosts clinic to help
train much-needed officials
NTSIKELELO QOYO
Cricket lovers were at Queen’s College
over the weekend to participate in this
ye a r ’s first officiating clinic, hosted by
Border Cricket.
The clinic was funded by the
department of sport, recreation, arts and
culture (DSRAC) in partnership with the
Chris Hani Cricket Association and
Border Cricket.
Lessons, which were open to the
public, ran from Friday to Sunday, with
participants being walked through indepth
lectures from the laws of cricket
manual from Cricket South Africa
(CSA).
Chair of the Chris Hani Cricket
Association, Mfundo Siyo, said the
clinic was of great benefit because it
would improve the standard of school
and club cricket in the region.
“We thank Border Cricket and
DSRAC for this initiative. In Chris Hani
we have had huge problems with
umpiring and scoring. Recently we had
the Coca-Cola T20 and in such
tournaments, we tend to use teachers
for officiating which affects the
impartiality of the oficials.
“To us, education means service
delivery. If we have people who know
the game, the standard of cricket in
schools and clubs will improve. Often
when schools come to play against
Queen’s Junior, all officials are on the
staff. This is progress because teachers
will also be able to participate in more
than just a coaching capacity,” said
S i yo .
Border Cricket’s Nokubonga
Dickmolo said they were eager to host
more clinics, but were hamstrung with
funding. “We do clinics in East London,
King William’s Town, Alice and Komani
whenever we get funding. When we get
stakeholders like the department of
sport sponsoring the clinics we are
happy as it is a great help.
“Our being here will be of benefit
for Chris Hani and Border because we
have been struggling to grow the
number of umpires and scorers.
“It would be great to come back and
do a follow-up to make sure that those
who participated are getting game time
and using the training,” said Dickmolo.