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Date : 08/09/23006
Source: Mpumalanga Provincial Government
Title: Mtsweni: Launch of Vulombe Soccer and Netball Tournament


Statement by Mpumalanga MEC of Culture, Sport and Recreation, Nomsa Mtsweni on the launch of Vulombe general dealer soccer and netball tournament

Good morning everyone

May I first extend my appreciation to members of the media for making it to this media launch and for your effort of informing the public about what is happening in the country. Having the media to this launch, the public in general will be informed about the various sport and recreation developments.

The Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation is honoured to launch the soccer and netball tournament for the 53 high schools in the Nkomazi Region. All the schools are congratulated for taking part at this sponsored tournament and in particular the ones that managed to make it to the finals which will be played tomorrow at Kamaqhekeza stadium. May I first thank Mr Mnisi from Vulombe for realising that our kids are our tomorrow generation. By sponsoring the schools for this kind of tournaments is actually opening the doors for our kids to even go further with their soccer and netball skills as you are aware that as a country we need to prepare our players for 2010 and as a province we are targeting to at least have two soccer stars who will represent the province at the Bafana Bafana by then.

Maybe to give a background of who the sponsor is: Vulombe is a company contracted to Transvaal Suiker Beperk (TSB) to supply Selati sugar direct to retailers. The director of the company Mr Mnisi from the Nkomazi area has pledged to assist about 53 schools in the Nkomazi area in terms of soccer and netball development. He will be doing this in a form of an annual tournament which starts this year, 2006, to 2008. With the passage of time and possible recruitment of extra sponsors the number of schools benefiting from this initiative is likely to be increased.

The Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation, Ehlanzeni Region is co-ordinating these games in conjunction with Vulombe and in partnership with schools and federations. This is also part of implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) we signed with the education department early this year.

Let me declare the prizes for the winners of the 2006 tournament as follows:

Position prizes:
1 - two computers
2 - one computer
3 - R1 000.00
4 - R500,00.

.

Both the soccer and netball tournaments will receive the above-mentioned prizes. There will also be prizes for best players and top goal scorers of the tournament.

Already preliminary eliminations have taken place in both netball and soccer.

Members of the media are invited to the finals that will take place on the 9th of September 2006 at Kamaqhekeza stadium, Nkomazi Municipality starting at 09h00.

Let me also remind everyone that this is Heritage, Tourism month and also that this is Readerthon week whereby everyone is expected to read a book irrespective of which language it is written in but to take part in reading to broaden our knowledge. I hope you'll all get some books to read as I also have my book wherever I go to keep myself reading.

I have no doubt that as the tournament starts all the schools which have made it to the finals will strive to get prizes for their schools, and don't forget that all participants are winners as well.

Thank you

I therefore officially launch the tournament.

Let the tournament begins.

Ngiyathokoza

Issued by: Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
8 September 2006

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