THE Nana Development Agency (NDA) Sports Festival was officially opened by Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality executive mayor Lindiwe Gunuza Nkwentsha who said such initiatives as the festival had to be supported by government.
Gunuza Nkwentsha was speaking at the Ezibeleni Stadium where NDA was handing over benches and goal posts for the stadium. She said local people had to come together to build the new municipality. “Let’s take this initiative and find a way to make it big. For us to make this economic hub status we have received successful, we need make this festival big. If it can attract people from outside the district local business will benefit,”she said.
She said the festival should produce players who will fly the local flag and be able to tell how their sporting careers were developed through this festival. Sport, recreation, arts and culture district director Peter Mbebe said the initiative was touching and reminded him of the time the field was a battle field. “As a department we prioritise nation building and this initiative is an example of nation building. Our youth is stolen by drugs and crime and this festival will keep them occupied and give them something to look forward to,” he said.
NDA finance head Bukiwe Lupindo Thiphe said Ezibeleni residents should take pride in the development taking place in their area. “It is our dream to turn this stadium into a sporting complex. It will happen and we should take care of the little we have so we can continue to add on it to ensure the dream is realised,” she said.
A draw of the teams that will take part in the tournament was done for the eight netball teams and 16 soccer teams. In netball the first match will be between Young Stars and Black Angels followed by Shining Stars and Eagles 2, Shooting Stars and Future Stars and Eagles 1 playing Sunrise. Netball matches will start on Saturday at 10 am at the stadium.
Delta Force will play Roman Callies for the first soccoer match, Moonlight will then play Sweet Angels and Young Ideas will play Mighty Clouds. Future Stars will play Peace Makers, Sunrise will play Shooting Stars and Oliver Stars will face off with Peace Warriors. Barcelona FC will take on Soul Buddyz while Madrid will play Holy Kings. The matches start tomorrw at 10 am at the stadium.
