By Lwazi Dlamini
Green Stone were the overall winners of the DiskiBet Kwaluseni MP Soccer tournament over the past Easter holidays.
The tournament was concluded on Monday at St. George’s Barracks with Green Stone beating Dream Team in an enthralling cup final.
The tournament, a brainchild of Kwaluseni Member of Parliament (MP) Sifiso Shongwe, was powered by betting giant DiskiBet, who splashed out E25 000 to make the community showdown a reality.
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After a series of competitive and colourful encounters across the Easter weekend, it all boiled down to a thrilling finale where Green Stone held their nerve and emerged victorious.
They took home E10 000, a glistening trophy, and a brand-new branded kit. The gallant runners-up, Dream Team, didn’t leave empty-handed either, walking away with E5 000 and a matching branded kit to mark their achievement. Teams finishing third and fourth received E3 000 and E2 000 respectively.
Among the dignitaries in attendance was Kwaluseni Indvuna Yenkhundla, Mthunzi Dlamini, who spoke with heartfelt joy on behalf of the various bucopho present.
“We are truly grateful to have witnessed such wonderful, competitive and, most importantly, peaceful football.
If it were up to me, I’d say let’s start the tournament all over again, that’s how entertaining it was,” he said.
He was full of praise for MP Sifiso Shongwe and DiskiBet, thanking them for bringing communities together through the beautiful game.
An elated DiskiBet’s Head of Marketing and PR Thuthu Mbingo said the event had been a tremendous success.
“As DiskiBet, we are very elated to have finally come to see the seeds turn to fruits through the matches from Friday and throughout Monday of the Easter Holidays.
We are thankful to have had a successful event that occurred peacefully, with unity of the community and the dignified audience to show support.
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We truly hope to carry on with this alliance with Kwaluseni and hope to see DiskiBet grow as the nation sees its for them and every community involved,” Mbingo said.
She added: “This tournament was about empowering communities and creating moments of joy under the banner of sport. We’re thrilled to have been part of something so special.
Well done to everyone involved,”
Mbingo highlighted that beyond the competitive edge, the tournament had also aimed to drive community interaction with DiskiBet’s platform, and it succeeded in style.
DiskiBet Marketing Director Thabiso Masilela took things up a notch by unveiling the winners of a special registration challenge, where teams had to recruit new users to the platform.
Matsapha City, though not victors on the pitch, reigned supreme in this category with an eye-watering 640 registrations, earning them a shiny new playing kit.
Dream Team, who had shone on the field, came second in the registration race too, racking up 330 users.
Masilela commended all teams for their efforts.
Champions
Green Stone – E10 000
Runners-up
Dream team – E5 000
Third
Roadway – E3 000
Fourth
K Rebels – E2 000
