Under-13 Cabana E200k finals get underway

By Ntokozo Magongo

The Hhohho Regional Football Association (HRFA) has dedicated the month of February to the Cabana Under-13 finals.

The Under-13 tournament is sponsored to the tune of E200 000 by Lactalis Eswatini, formerly Parmalat. The tournament semi-finals and finals will be played in four zones first being Mbabane (4 February), Buhleni (11 February), Pigg’s Peak (18 February) and Lobamba (25 February).

The winners in all the zones will take home E3 000 each with a branded Cabana soccer kit while runners-up will get E2 000 each with the semi-finalists taking home E1 000 each.

Each of the four participating teams from each zone will receive E300 as a
participation fee with the best player getting E400 and the best coach, team and referees each also getting E400.

The tournament is under the ‘Liyasikwa Liyamila Hhohho Youth Development’. Present during the launch Tuesday at Sigwaca House were some players who won the tournament back when it started in 2014 Mbabane Highlanders Siwakhile Shongwe and Pigg’s Peak Black Swallows Mayibongwe Mabuza. They are now ambassadors of the tournament.

Both players encouraged the juniors to fully concentrate on school and playing football. They said discipline and respect were key to success in football.

The tournament was launched in 2014 under the Milky-Max with a package of E10 000 and it has been growing in the years with the E200 000 sponsorship in 2022 that was shared with Shiselweni Regional Football Association (SRFA) which got E80 000.

Present during the launch was Lactalis Eswatini staff including Marketing Officer Lucky Phiri, Mangaliso Dludlu, Welcome Dlamini, Phetsile Mswane and Cheilla Vovos with the HRFA represented by Chairman Comfort Shongwe and Development Officer Sibonangaye Dlamini and Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi Radebe.

The prize breakdown in all four zones:

Champion E3 000. 00
Runners up E2 000. 00
Semi-finalists: E 1000 each
Best Player E400.00
Best Coach E400.00
Best Team E400.00
Referees Tournament E400.00
Total Prize Money E12 600.00