More than 1,000 young scholars came out to watch and cheer for their fellow schoolmates at the second instalment of the Rainbow Chicken Schools Challenge at Hammersdale’s Mpumalanga Stadium on 23 and 24 May 2014.

The eight-school soccer tournament, jointly hosted by the AmaZulu Community Trust and Rainbow Chicken, served as a good appetiser for the young enthusiasts as they prepare for their mid-year exams in their respective levels of study. The large crowd was well rewarded for their loyal support as the football dished up was worthy of any top tournament.

The final ended in emphatic fashion as Chief Luthayi High School overcame Amatshezulu High School 2-0 to be crowned champions and were the worthy recipients of the R10,000 prize money.

Their road to the final wasn’t any easy one as they won 3-1 on penalties in their first match against Sikhethuxolo High School after a tough goalless affair on open play. The semifinal saw the champions rising to the occasion as they brushed aside Phezulu High School 3-1 in an entertaining match up to book their place in the final.

Amatshezulu beat Ukusa High School 2-1 in their first match before narrowly beating Isibukosezwe High School on penalties to book their place in the final.

The two-day tournament was so enthralling that it seemed even unclear which team Rainbow’s Marketing & Communications Manager, Warren Farrer, supported when he pulled in on Friday.

The best entertainment on the day was also provided by the men in the benches as the coaches kept their presence felt on the dugout as they shouted instructions to their players, much like the most decorated professional coaches.

Mr. Sbusiso Madonsela of Chief Luthayi High School was full of praise for the way his players kept their nerve all the way through to lifting the cup.

“It feels great that the players kept to the tactics we’d devised. Our school has done well before in provincial competitions but just recently we had experienced a bit of a downward spiral but now hopefully it’s a start of the road back to the top.

“This tournament is very helpful because it helps keep the boys on their toes, thanks to Rainbow (Chicken) and AmaZulu and their stakeholders for their effort to revive schools football here in Mpumalanga township,” said Madonsela.

A R2,500 consolation cheque was given to Amatshezulu High School for finishing as runners up.

The school’s captain, Sihle Cebekhulu, earned himself the Player of the Tournament award and a R1,000 clothing voucher. He will be invited to a one-month trial with the AmaZulu first team’s feeder club, Durban Warriors, who play in the ABC Motsepe League (SAFA Second Division).

Individual Awards:

Best Supported Team: Chief Luthayi High School

Player of the Tournament: Sihle Cebekhulu (Amatshezulu High School).

Leading Goal Scorer: The award was shared by Anele Linda (Isibukosezwe High School), Sboniso Ngcobo (Chief Luthayi High School) and Vuyo Cingo (Amatshezulu High School), who all scored two goals each.

The two day tournament formed part of a yearly initiative which has seen more than 400 children get equipped with ways to handle societal ills and teachings to possibly combating the spread of HIV Aids and teenage pregnancy.

According to the AmaZulu Community Trust Chairman, Lunga Sokhela, it was for this need that both Rainbow Chicken and the community trust partnered as they both look to create efforts to keep the youth rooted in school and sports activity.

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