Richard Nkosi

Lucky Zwane, Silulumanzi sports coordinator, at the weekend challenged the 32 remaining schools in both netball and soccer tournaments to pull up their socks when the games start.

Zwane was speaking at the official launch of the yearly Silulumanzi Cup of Mbombela High Schools held at Valencia community hall in Nelspruit on Friday.

"We don't want to see the repetition of errors committed in previous tournaments, so we urge all the participating schools to stick to the rules.

"To ensure the high standards of professionalism this year, a member of a steering committee will be assigned to each match and will be required to provide a brief report thereafter.

"It is also a must that all teams taking part in the tournament should be accompanied by a school teacher and not an outsider like a selected coach," said Zwane.

Silulumanzi is a private sector company contracted by the Mbombela Municipality in Nelspruit to supply water to nearby townships.

This is the fourth year that they are organising the event. This year's champions in both categories are guaranteed a cool R10 000, a trophy and gold medals.

Losing finalists will pocket a consolation prize of R8 000 and silver medals, third place R6 000 and bronze medals and the fourth- placed team will receive R5 000 and bronze medals.

The four teams that will be knocked out from the quarter finals will each receive R1 800. The eight that will be knocked out from the last 16 will each receive R900 and the 16 to be eliminated in the last 32 stage will each pocket R400. This year will also see the champions' coaches in both categories rewarded for the first time with a R1 300 cash prize.

There are four games to take place on weekends and Wednesdays. Fixtures for Wednesday (May 9) in soccer: Victory Park v Lowveld High, Bonginhlahla v Hlanganani, Valencia v Mbuyane, Damelin v Khanyisani.

In netball: Lowveld High v Inkunzi, Khumbula v Ncakeni, Guduza v Mntungwa, Khutsalani v Mbuyane.