BY SABELO GWEBU
BUHLENI – Ndzingeni-based team, Community, won 2-0 against Mvuma Hotspurs to win the first-ever Cabana Under-13 tournament to be hosted for the Buhleni Zone.
The tournament featured teams from Mhlangatane, Timphisini and Ndzingeni leagues under the Hhohho Regional Football Association (HRFA). Cabana, a product by Lactalis Eswatini, formerly Parmalat, entered its last stage of the season after successfully hosting four finals in four different zones across the region.
The sponsor has been with the HRFA since 2014 as the sole sponsor for the U-13s.
“The prize presentation for all leagues will be announced in due course,” said Liyasikwa Liyamila Hhohho Youth Development Officer Sibonangaye Dlamini.
This year, E80 000 will be distributed to winning teams across the four zones, a significant increase from the 2014 first edition’s E10 000 endorsement.
Now called the Cabana Under-13 tournament, the tournament has already produced Premier League stars like Siwakhile ‘Swakis’ Shongwe of giants Mbabane Highlanders and Mayibongwe ‘Suarez’ Mabuza who is with Nsingizini Hotspurs.
Both players have also represented the country in junior national teams with the latter playing a big role for Eswatini last October as it played host to the COSAFA Under-20 Championships, a tournament finally won by Zambia.
Siwakhile represented Pigg’s Peak Black Swallows while Mayibongwe played for Supersport in the Mbabane zone.
The champions of each zone will walk away with E3 000 while it will be E2 000 for the runners-up and E1 000 each for semi-final losers.
2022 CABANA U13 WINNERS:
Mbabane Swallows from Mbabane Zone
Golden Kings from Lobamba Zone
Seven Up from Pigg’s Peak Zone
Community from Buhleni Zone
CABANA U-13 BUHLENI ZONE RESULTS:
Semi-finals
Community 6-4 Macocweni
Mvuma Hotspurs 4-3 JB Arsenal (after penalties)
Finals Community 2-0 Mvuma Hotspurs
