SIPHELELE NKETO
YOUNG people of the rural villages of Mbizana and surrounding areas will participate in sports activities from November 1 till December 8 as part of celebrating Mfuneko Mthi’s birthday.
Mthi, of Nomlacu in Mbizana, will be celebrating his birthday on December 8. Instead of celebrating the notable day with his family and friends, he will be hosting a sports day at Mphuthumi Mafumbatha Stadium with soccer and netball teams competing for prizes.
Prior to that, 18 netball teams for U13 and U16 netballers will play Neko’s Pre-Birthday Netball Tournament.
Games will start from November 1. The 12 soccer teams will only play on the final day of the tournament, December 8.
Mthi said the initiative of hosting a sports tournament on his birthday is part of giving back to the community, also to keep young people off the streets, especially when children are on school break.
“I started last year to celebrate my birthday this way. To witness young people playing sports gives me peace of mind because in most cases young people are exposed to alcohol at a very young age, especially during school holidays. Keeping them in sport is a way of fighting social ills such as alcohol abuse,” Mthi stated.
Prizes to be won include Best Coach of the Tournament, Best Shooter of the Tournament, Best Defense of the Tournament, Best Centre Court of the Tournament and the overall winner. Other prizes will include winners in first position, second and third positions in both soccer and netball.
