Ngqamakhwe Eagles bulldozed their way to championship in the Mnquma Mayor’s Cup in the women’s rugby section at the weekend.
The spotlight of the multi-sports code competition was fixated on Eagles because of their absolute dominance.
The sheer skill displayed by eventual Best Player in this section, Aphiwe Ngwevu brought about some entertainment for the spectators.
Their coach Phikolomzi Gobingca believes the success did not come as a surprise given the hard work his grls put in at training and the club’s militant approach to player development.
Gobingca praised his charges for their dedication and love for the sport.
“These are young kids but it is their hard work and commitment that stands out,” he said.
“I do not get surprised when they hump opponents with big score margins because here you are talking about a bunch that goes to the training session even if it is cold or raining.”
Tactically, according to Gobingca, what also sets Eagles apart from the rest is the professional coaching at the club.
He was referring to himself as he holds a sport science qualification and his Eagles founder Mandla Makalima, who is also the coach for Border U18. Eagles win consolidated what already is a well-documented history as Ngqamakwe is known as the rugby powerhouse in the former Transkei.
Second to Eagles in women’s rugby section was King Hintsa FET College while Comrades came third.
The men’s section in the sport of the oval ball was won by Walter Sisulu University, a feat that will bolster the institution whose rugby is on the rise as they strive to be among the best in the sport in university rugby countrywide.
The runners-up here were Eagles while Comrades finished third just like they did in the female section.
Ocean South who were representing the municipality’s ward four became netball champions.
In second place was ward 30’s Black Diamonds while Umsobomvu finished third place.
In football, male category, FC Montego of ward four were the big winners with Qina Stars finishing second best and Filler Angels from ward eight coming in at third place.
The dominant ward four also won the women’s soccer section wherein they were represented by Fast 11. At second place was Rainbow sisters from ward 13 as ward 10’s Daluhlanga SSS finished third.
Executive mayor Baba Ganjana describe the games as a success. According to him, Mnquma would no longer support, financially or otherwise individual clubs from their jurisdiction unless they integrate.
This, he said, was due to what he deemed to be a money-making scheme as there were too many sport tournaments hosted with money coming in from many channels such as affiliation fees.
At this year’s Mnquma Mayor’s Cup, well-known sport philanthropist Mthetheleli Ngumbela was given special recognition and presented with a blazer for his contribution in developing sport in the area.
Like the true giver Ngumbela is, he pledged to donate R100 000 of his own money for the next Mnquma Mayor’s Cup that he wants to go to prizes.
But Ngumbela did not shy away from criticising government on things he is of the view they were getting wrong and therefore hurting sport development in rural areas and townships.
“There is no logic in building a school that do not have sport facilities and then talk about sport transformation which is what our government is doing,” said Ngumbela.
“Because schools without sport facilities will not help in advancing transformation, the government then resorts to short-sighted measures like imposing quotas to sport bodies like they are doing with rugby currently.”
Hard graft puts Eagles in seventh heaven
The spotlight of the multi-sports code competition was fixated on Eagles because of their absolute dominance.
The sheer skill displayed by eventual Best Player in this section, Aphiwe Ngwevu brought about some entertainment for the spectators.
Their coach Phikolomzi Gobingca believes the success did not come as a surprise given the hard work his grls put in at training and the club’s militant approach to player development.
Gobingca praised his charges for their dedication and love for the sport.
“These are young kids but it is their hard work and commitment that stands out,” he said.
“I do not get surprised when they hump opponents with big score margins because here you are talking about a bunch that goes to the training session even if it is cold or raining.”
Tactically, according to Gobingca, what also sets Eagles apart from the rest is the professional coaching at the club.
He was referring to himself as he holds a sport science qualification and his Eagles founder Mandla Makalima, who is also the coach for Border U18. Eagles win consolidated what already is a well-documented history as Ngqamakwe is known as the rugby powerhouse in the former Transkei.
Second to Eagles in women’s rugby section was King Hintsa FET College while Comrades came third.
The men’s section in the sport of the oval ball was won by Walter Sisulu University, a feat that will bolster the institution whose rugby is on the rise as they strive to be among the best in the sport in university rugby countrywide.
The runners-up here were Eagles while Comrades finished third just like they did in the female section.
Ocean South who were representing the municipality’s ward four became netball champions.
In second place was ward 30’s Black Diamonds while Umsobomvu finished third place.
In football, male category, FC Montego of ward four were the big winners with Qina Stars finishing second best and Filler Angels from ward eight coming in at third place.
The dominant ward four also won the women’s soccer section wherein they were represented by Fast 11. At second place was Rainbow sisters from ward 13 as ward 10’s Daluhlanga SSS finished third.
Executive mayor Baba Ganjana describe the games as a success. According to him, Mnquma would no longer support, financially or otherwise individual clubs from their jurisdiction unless they integrate.
This, he said, was due to what he deemed to be a money-making scheme as there were too many sport tournaments hosted with money coming in from many channels such as affiliation fees.
At this year’s Mnquma Mayor’s Cup, well-known sport philanthropist Mthetheleli Ngumbela was given special recognition and presented with a blazer for his contribution in developing sport in the area.
Like the true giver Ngumbela is, he pledged to donate R100 000 of his own money for the next Mnquma Mayor’s Cup that he wants to go to prizes.
But Ngumbela did not shy away from criticising government on things he is of the view they were getting wrong and therefore hurting sport development in rural areas and townships.
“There is no logic in building a school that do not have sport facilities and then talk about sport transformation which is what our government is doing,” said Ngumbela.
“Because schools without sport facilities will not help in advancing transformation, the government then resorts to short-sighted measures like imposing quotas to sport bodies like they are doing with rugby currently.”
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